Money remittance company Western Union has followed in the footsteps of MoneyGram and partnered with EcoCash for diaspora remittances into Zimbabwe.

EcoCash has more than 3 million registered users in Zimbabwe. It competes against rival operator Telecel Zimbabwe's Telecash mobile money platform in the southern African country.

The new partnership between EcoCash and Western Union will enable expat Zimbabweans sending money back home from the diaspora to send money to their friends and relatives back home through their EcoCash mobile money wallets.

Jammy Shindi, an executive for Econet Services International said the partnership was aimed at enhancing convenience for people intending to send money back home.

He said EcoCash, which was launched in 2011 had "contributed significantly to financial inclusion" in Zimbabwe.

"We have been working in the background with Western Union. Zimbabweans in South Africa have been asking for solutions from us and as from today the people in South Africa can send money straight into the EcoCash wallet," he said.

Natalie Japanese Morris,  the business and marketing development head for EcoCash explained that people intending to send money from abroad visit Western Union outlets and send the money,  additionally punching in the Econet mobile number of the recipient in Zimbabwe.

"It is purely an in wallet digital wallet for delivery and pick money transfer service.

“Senders in diaspora send money from diaspora and enter the recipient Econet number and the money is directly credited into the EcoCash wallet," she said.