Zimbabwean company Econet Wireless seeks to open a shop in Hillbrow Johannesburg with an intention to serve Zimbabwean clients living in South Africa.

Last year, Econet Wireless together with its South African counterpart, MVNO Econet Wireless South Africa, offered a ‘Call Home’ service with discounted rates on calls from South Africa to Zimbabwe. This partnership targeted specifically the needs of Zabwean and other African immigrants. Many Zimbabweans took its SIM cards out of national pride.”

A report from the company shows that it has been systematically developing products for Zimbabweans living in SA, including an insurance product called “CarryMeHome” which covers the cost of repatriation to Zimbabwe in case of death in South Africa, and was developing a South African version of EcoCash so that its customers could send money home, quickly, cheaply and safely.