Civil servants in DR Congo are in awe of mobile banking as they enjoy getting paid on time and receiving full salary after allegedly suffering for years from greedy supervisors taking a fraction of their salary while paying them in cash reports Africa news.
“The first time, they’re surprised” to see what they actually make, Hassan Wazni said, Managing Director at Sofibanque, one of about a dozen banks offering mobile banking accounts in the conflict-torn Congo
This comes a year after the incumbent Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo promised to end the practise of government workers being paid in cash.
Most Congolese never visit banks because there is only a tiny network of bank branches. But the growth of mobile phones in the country like the whole of Africa led to investment in mobile banking by banks.
Mobile banking is easily accessible with many shops even in the rural area getting the equipment that has made easy to deposit, withdraw or make sales transactions that can be confirmed by the customers on the phone.
Although there were a few hiccups in the beginning, such as error in names, it has gained popularity with the public liking the services and it practicality.
Only 2 percent of Congo’s 75 million population had bank accounts in 2012 but the number has almost tripled with 5.7 percent now being reported to have bank accounts.
The success in Kenya, where over 7 billion dollars is reported to flow through mobile banking in a year has led to the growth in mobile banking in Africa.
According to the head of a non-governmental organisation which works with the Congolese army, it was common for state workers and soldiers to end up with the equivalent of about $5 after their $60 salaries had passed down the hierarchy to reach them, says Africa news.
Mobile banking will decrease the corruption and benefit the State since it will help it in ridding it of ‘ghost-workers’ in the payroll.
Recent reports by the media, 30 fictitious schools were uncovered in North Kivu allegedly employing 200 fictitious teachers.
The money that the government saves should be able to cover the 3.5 dollars that bank charges the state to set up the accounts.
