Zimbabwe’s Midlands State University (MSU) has introduced a centralized system that digitalizes each service provided to a student.
Among them is the e-Sadza system that flawlessly bills student for food eaten within the University’s canteen. This fast, smart and simple system serves not less than one student per every 10 seconds.
The University’s in house programming system powered Changamire is a homegrown initiative that makes use of very simple cards with an inserted electronic chip that contains the entire database of a student, which includes a virtual bank that automatically draws down the cash as the student accesses various services.
The University’s system allows students to deposit into the virtual student bank account any amount, enabling students to pay for different services without using real money. This makes sure that students more efficiently manage their resources.
According to Liberty Dandira, the ICT director of MSU, the system was created at a very low production cost, which gave the permission to issue free cards to students even though there is a charge for replacing the card.
Dandira also stated: “By enrolling a student is able to receive a gold card, which is a standard student ID card that comes inserted with an electronic system that is currently serving as a cashless prepaid swipe card at MSU canteen facilities. The card also pays and gives access to different services such as examination seating and library.”
Other advantages offered by the card besides creating a cashless society for students is getting rid of the issues of change and reducing the amount of time that students spend paying for services. It also has a pin code that offers security for the owner of the card.
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The system, which runs on a NFC card reading technology, also allows students to top up their accounts any time at any cash office within the campus, offering them convenience. To use the card, the student is only required to swipe the card within the card reader at the counter, key in their pin code on the numeric pin reader then place an order.
After placing the order, the amount is instantly deducted from the card and a meal receipt in addition to a mini balance statement then issued.
