• Mobile money agents play a critical role where financial inclusion and expansion is concerned.
• The commission structures have remained low between K1 and K20.
• Service providers, banks and Bank of Zambia can collaborate and come up with commission structures which will a motivate agents.
Mobile Money Business Association has called on Bank of Zambia, financial institutions and Mobile Network Operators to consider revising the commission structures so as to motivate agents.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Association Secretary General Chris Sinchende said being the regulator of the financial sector, the Central Bank, should collaborate with Mobile Network Operators and commercial banks to seriously consider revising the rates or commissions which have stagnated for too long.
Mr. Sinchende stated that mobile money agents play a critical role where financial inclusion and expansion is concerned, but the commission structures have remained low between K1 and K20 depending on the number of transactions one makes in a day, and this is not motivating them in any way.
“We are advocating for better commission for the agents. Mobile money agents play a critical role where financial inclusion and expansion is concerned but if you look at the sales or commission structures, they have stagnated for too long. The commissions that agents are getting are not motivating in any way.”
“We believe the service providers, banks and Bank of Zambia can collaborate and come up with the commission structures which will at least be a motivation to agents who are playing a very critical role where financial inclusion and expansion is concerned,” Mr. Sinchende said.
He stressed the need to appreciate the agents for what they are doing especially that other industries keep revising employees’ salaries.
“Our plea to the regulators of financial sector the Bank of Zambia, banks and mobile network operators is to seriously consider revising the commissions which have stagnated for too long. Let us appreciate the agents for what they are doing, even in other industries they keep revising the salaries to cushion them from the inflation effect. We believe the regulators and service providers can do better,” he added.