Harare – Mobile money companies in Zimbabwe are no-longer accepting dollar payments for pay television platform, DsTV while some banks are also now restricting payments for the service.
This comes as Zimbabwe has started to tighten the screws on “excessive” spending and use of scarce foreign currency. The country has introduced local bond notes after bank notes started to run out.
Following stinging criticism on banks by the reserve bank, finance institutions have now started to limit payments for DsTV. Telecel Zimbabwe announced on Monday that it will stop accepting payments for DsTV using its Telecash mobile money platform.
“Due to factors beyond our control, DsTV payments on Telecash will cease on February 28 till further notice. All other services remain available,” Telecel Zimbabwe said in a text message to subscribers.
Rival operator Econet Wireless has also moved to stop dollar payments for DsTV in Zimbabwe.
However, it has switched on an alternative platform that allows DsTV subscribers to pay for views using a rand account on the EcoCash platform, with users having to convert their funds into rands first.
Some banks in Zimbabwe are no longer accepting credit card payments for DsTV for non-account holders. Zimbabwe is battling acute foreign currency shortages and the central bank is asking banks to allow pay outs to depositors using a strict priority list.-IOL
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