Mobile scratch cards shortage hits Kasama

KASAMA District and the surrounding areas in Northern Province are currently facing a serious shortage of mobile scratch cards which is affecting business transactions.

A check at most of the mobile scratch card selling booths in the central business district (CBD) of Kasama indicated a critical shortage of scratch cards for Zamtel, Airtel Zambia and MTN Zambia.

Some Kasama residents said the district was facing a serious shortage of mobile scratch cards which they said was hindering business transactions.

Collins Mutale, who runs a taxi business, said the mobile phone providers should consider offloading more scratch cards on the market.

“The mobile service providers should consider offloading more scratch cards to the district because there has been a serious shortage of cards in the area for the past one month,” Mr Mutale said.

He said most mobile scratch card dealers had resorted to mobile machines but it was hampered by poor internet connectivity that the district had been experiencing.

Jacob  Phiri, who sells scratch cards, also said there need for the mobile phone operators to release more cards because the system of using the mobile machines in selling airtime was proving difficult due to poor network.

“Customers are made to wait for them to be served, which is not making business sense, because time is important in business,” Mr Phiri said.