Airtel Zambia, Zanaco Bank enable mobile money for school fees

Airtel Zambia has partnered with Zanaco Bank to provide bill muster services on the Airtel Money platform.

The bill muster service is a collections platform provided to Zambian universities, colleges, and schools with accounts at Zanaco for collections of tuition fees and other fees.

The initiative is expected to benefit Zambians who previously had to rely on cash or in-person transactions to pay their education bills, which they can now pay via mobile money.

During the launch of the partnership, Zambian Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary for Administration Noriana Muneku congratulated both companies for coming up with an easier way for people to pay their fees.

"With bill muster on Airtel money, students, parents and guardians can now say goodbye to long queues and the hassle of paying bills in person. The Government of Zambia is always pleased to support initiatives that are aimed at making lives for our communities easier," Muneku commented.

School fee payments made easier

Airtel Networks Zambia's Interim MD, Hussam Baday, said technology enhances services therefore the collaboration will positively benefit many Zambians.

Airtel Mobile Commerce Country Director, Andrew Chuma, added that Airtel Money will simplify the bill muster service even more for school fees payments.

The mobile money initiative is expected to benefit Zambians who previously had to rely on cash or in-person transactions to pay their education bills. (Source: Image by Freepik).

"Now, anyone with an active Airtel Mobile Money wallet can make a payment for fees to their respective institution using Zanaco bill muster," Chuma added.

Zanaco MD Mukwandi Chibesakunda said the partnership is in line with the bank's digital agenda aimed at enhancing customer experience by providing efficient payment solutions.

Zambia's mobile ecosystem

It will be interesting to see how this partnership will impact Airtel Zambia's subscribers. According to statistics from market research company Omdia, a sister company of Connecting Africa, Airtel is Zambia's biggest operator with 10 million mobile customers at the end of the third quarter of 2023, and almost 49% market share.

MTN followed with 7 million mobile users, and almost 34% market share, and Zamtel was third with 3.4 million users or 17% of the market.

The partnership is also in line with the country's drive to improve its information and communications technology (ICT) services as both MTN and Airtel have launched 5G services in the country.

SpaceX's satellite Internet service, Starlink, also launched in the country in October 2023.

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*Top image is of from left to right: UNZA Vice Chancellor, Professor Anne Lungowe Sikwibele; Zanaco's Head of Cash Management, Alinani Kabifya: Zanaco MD Mukwandi Chibesakunda; Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary for Administration,Noriana Muneku; Airtel Networks Zambia Interim MD Hussam Baday; and Airtel Mobile Commerce Country Director Andrew Chuma. (Source: Zanaco Bank).

— Matshepo Sehloho, Associate Editor, Connecting Africa