Zimbabwe’s largest supermarket chain, OK Zimbabwe Limited, has connected to Econet Wireless’ mobile money service, EcoCash, becoming the first retailer to connect to the service.

Banking institutions such as CBZ are the other corporate organisations that have been enlisted as “super-agents” for the service.

Econet and OK Zimbabwe said in a joint statement that the giant retailer plans to perform agent services for EcoCash throughout its branches across the country. Under this partnership, OK Zimbabwe retail outlets will be used to register customers for EcoCash and also perform cashing in and cashing out functions.

An Econet executive, Darlington Mandivenga, said: “As the largest retail chain with 54 outlets, OK Zimbabwe has significant traffic in their stores, and we therefore saw the opportunity to provide EcoCash services in their branch network to cater for these customers.”

Albert Katsande, the OK Zimbabwe chief operating officer, said by partnering with Econet for its EcoCash service, the retailer intends to attract the vast number of EcoCash customers into OK Zimbabwe branches.

EcoCash user numbers are said to be nearing two million.

“Naturally, the customers will find it more convenient to shop in our stores,” Katsande said.

According to Econet Wireless chief executive officer, Douglas Mbowni, the enlisting of retailers to back up EcoCash will “benefit” customers.

“The natural development is to see OK operating as a merchant for EcoCash, which will enable customers shopping in OK to make payments using EcoCash,” added Mandivenga.