Phase out all airtime scratch cards—Macra

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has directed mobile network and data operators in the country to phase out physical scratch cards and adopt digital top up mechanism.

Making the announcement in Lilongwe on Tuesday, Macra director general Daud Suleman said this will reduce operating costs as well as help conserve the environment.

He further said Macra will engage in extensive publicity to raise the awareness among all stakeholders.

Said Suleman: “We are jointly going to enhance publicity so that people are aware that they need to migrate from buying scratch cards to recharging digitally.”

Airtel Malawi plc managing director Charles Kamoto, who attended the briefing, said they already are on track in migrating from scratch cards usage.

He  said, so far, only seven percent of the company’s customers use scratch cards as such the December deadline is achievable.

Said Kamoto: “Macra’s directive will just reinforce what we are already doing. We are excited and we believe that we are going to do it.

“We know that everyone of our clients will be able to brace for digital recharge by 31st December.”

He stated that those who use digital recharge such as mobile money and via banks are over 80 percent.