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The Mobile Money Association of Zambia has criticised Government for making decisions on mobile money levies without adequate consultation with stakeholders in the sector, warning that higher charges could undermine financial inclusion.
Association president and secretary general, Chris Sichende, said stakeholders had previously called for meaningful engagement before Government introduced changes affecting the mobile money sector.
Speaking to Zambia Monitor in an interview, Sichende said mobile money had become an integral part of daily life, with many people relying on the platforms to conduct frequent transactions.
“We have requested that whenever such decisions are being made, there should be serious engagement with stakeholders, including associations and those operating in the mobile money sector, to obtain their input before decisions are reached,” he said.
Sichende said increasing the levies would raise the cost of transactions, particularly for individuals and businesses that frequently used mobile money services.
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“Mobile money has become an integral part of our lives, and there are people who are heavy transactors. They transact more on a daily basis,” he said.
He said Government should carefully assess the potential impact of the proposed increases on users and businesses before implementing the changes.
Sichende also warned that higher levies could reverse some of the gains made in expanding financial inclusion in the country.
“This has the potential to erode the gains made so far in terms of financial inclusion expansion,” he said.
He called on Government to undertake broader consultations and consider the implications of the proposed increases on mobile money usage and access to financial services before making a final decision.
In the 2027 national budget, Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane proposed increasing mobile money levies across all transaction bands as part of measures aimed at broadening the tax base, improving equity and mobilising additional domestic revenue.
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