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From John Murwira in Kariba
VILLAGERS in rural Kariba have bemoaned poor mobile network coverage in the area, which is affecting mobile money transactions. As a result, some people are walking long distances to effect a transaction before returning with a message to indicate that it would have been successful.

In an interview over the weekend, Chief Musambakaruma called for Government’s intervention to ensure that mobile network coverage in Kariba rural improved.

“Poor mobile network coverage has become one of the major challenges facing Kariba rural and the situation calls for Government intervention,” he said. “People have to go to mountains to make a phone call. Mobile operators should come to our rescue.”

Reliable network coverage would boost economic activities in the area, he said. Kariba’s Ward 4 Councillor Fortunate Mafweda said the absence of network boosters had also affected business, as most shops demanded cash. For EcoCash transactions, people travel to network hotspots, which are a distance away.

“Our business here is really slow because imagine with the cash crisis we are witnessing as a country, most businesses have resorted to plastic money, which includes use of swipe machines,” said a shopkeeper at Mola Business Centre. “Without proper and efficient network coverage, we are left out.”