By A Correspondent- Four million vulnerable Zimbabweans, including informal traders, are set to receive part of the $800million-worth Coronavirus grant through the state-owned cellular network – NetOne’s One Money mobile payment system starting next week, the Social Welfare minister, Paul Mavima said.
As part of the government’s efforts to caution millions of Zimbabweans affected by the 21-day lockdown, more than four million vulnerable beneficiaries will be registered on one of Zimbabwe’s mobile payment networks – NetOne through which each individual will get ZWL$200.00 Coronavirus grant.
“Vulnerable people including those who work informal jobs and survive from hand-to-mouth will get $200 each, so if it’s a family of four, they get $800,” Mavima said.
NetOne, a state-owned cellular network with less than a third of the country’s mobile transfer users was controversially chosen for the distribution of grants due to its comparatively lower transaction charges as opposed to Econet, whose Ecocash service handles over 98 percent of mobile money transactions in the country.
“Econet is very expensive and NetOne charges are very low. It’s for their own good (the beneficiaries) so that they make the best of their money.No-one is saying they should stop using EcoCash, but for this scheme, it’s NetOne,” minister of SMEs, Sithembiso Nyoni is reported saying.
The procedure on how to identify the vulnerable and the criteria through which this grant is to be distributed to the four million vulnerable Zimbabweans is however not specified.
Social Welfare minister, Paul Mavima reportedly said;
“As we register people for the grants, we give them a NetOne SIM card. We have entered into an agreement with NetOne such that when they [beneficiaries] get a line, they also get a ZimSwitch bank card they can use to swipe when transacting in shops.”
According to the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur observations, above 65% ( far more than the stated vulnerable) total Zimbabwean population live below the poverty line. There is an estimated 8 million people requiring urgent action to reduce food consumption gaps and save livelihoods from both urban and rural areas.-statemedia