HARARE - Mobile operator, Econet Wireless (Econet) says its mobile money platform, Ecocash now boasts of 1,7 million registered users.

According to the company, EcoCash is now the second fastest growing mobile money transfer service in the region after M-Pesa launched in Kenya by Safaricom.

In celebrating the first anniversary of the service, Econet has launched the country’s largest consumer promotion in which it is offering cash prizes of over $1 million.

“This is the biggest promotion launched in Zimbabwe in terms of cash prizes.”

The promotion, which is sponsored by EcoCash, is dubbed “The EcoCash One Million Dollar, Waya-Waya Promotion” and started on October 1.

Econet said the promotion will offer a grand prize of $100 000. To enter the promotion one simply needs to transact using EcoCash.

Registered customers stand a chance to win every time they cash in, send money or buy airtime using EcoCash.

Unregistered customers qualify the moment they register. During the competition, which runs over the next three months, Econet will give away $100 to 100 customers everyday for 100 days.

“The company could have bought several vehicles as prizes but we decided instead to give cash to customers so they can decide what they what to do with their money,” said the spokesperson.

“Econet is inspired to change people’s lives and offering a customer $100 000 can help achieve their dreams like buying a house,furnishing their house or even start a meaningful business. To us, this is life changing,” the spokesperson said.

EcoCash has proved a life line particularly for rural people who not only use it to get money from relatives in urban areas but also use it as an alternative to cash in an economy where the availability of United States dollars is tight. - Business Writer