• The initiative is being driven by GSMA.
• The process has to be done in a manner that will not cause disruption.
• Certain places especially in rural areas heavily depend on scratch cards.

Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) says the process of phasing out scratch cards as a way of promoting a green economy is still in effect.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, ZICTA Manager Corporate Communications Hanford Chaaba said the initiative is being driven by Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), which is an Association for the mobile network operators.
Mr. Chaaba stated that the process has to be done in a manner that will not cause disruption because certain places especially in rural areas heavily depend on scratch cards.
“It’s an initiative that is being driven by GSMA, GSMA is an Association for the mobile network operators so they are the ones that are driving the agenda to ensure that these things are completely phased out.”
“But we have to do it in a manner that is not going to cause disruption because they are certain places where they heavily depend on scratch cards, like those places in rural areas,” Mr. Chaaba stated.
He explained that from the time the initiative was launched in December 2022, ZICTA and other players have been trying to see if it can be done within a year and how it is going to come out because this is the direction that most countries are taking to promote a green economy.
“So what we have now done is we have to state the period under which this is done and from the time this was launched in December 2022, we were trying to see if this can be done within a year then we see how it is going to come out. But the idea is that as we try and promote a green economy that is the direction that most countries are taking to ensure that we go smart in terms of recharging.
“From the time it was launched, the process is in effect and we are hoping from the time it was launched up to a year’s time, we would have seen much progress and we would have been able to assess the progress that has been made in order for us to know whether this is going to be workable or not and this will have to be done after a thorough assessment is done in certain areas,” he added.
In December 2022, Government announced the scrapping off and use of scratch cards in order to uplift customer services and promote a green economy.