A partnership between Econet Wireless' EcoCash and UK-based remittance firm Chitoro has effectively introduced a new channel through which Zimbabweans residing in the UK can send money back home.

As a result of the alliance, money can be sent from bank and Visa accounts in the United Kingdom directly to mobile money wallets in Zimbabwe.

EcoCash has about 5 million registered users and already has other partnerships with Western Union, WorldRemit and other remittance companies.

Natalie Jabangwe, General Manager for EcoCash said yesterday that the partnership with Chitoro was a 24-hour service that is accessible through the Chitoro website. She added that there were no additional charges for the recipient.

Chitoro's fees start at £1.99 and there is no limit on the amounts that can be sent through the partnership platform, according to the companies.

Haxton Rose, director at Chitoro, in which Econet Wireless indirectly has an interest, said "You have to be banked in the United Kingdom to be able to send money through the platform".

Rose said this was in line with regulatory requirements for remittance companies in the UK.

Jabangwe added "the remittance through EcoCash of outbound transactions was work in progress" pending finalisation and approval from the central bank. "You visit the Chitoro website and enter a recipient's Econet or EcoCash number and send the money from your account and it will be received instantly," she explained.

Zimbabwe's central bank intends to promote the use of electronic money in the economy to combat what is described as "externalisation of scarce cash resources."