BY FRANK NAMARA & JOHN GAHAMANYI Zigama Credit and Saving Society (CSS) has started money transfer business in the country. The service, known as CSS ntuma, is targeting both local and the Diaspora. CSS ntuma is a technology-oriented way of sending and receiving money from one person to another. Through Zigama large network, money can easily be easily transferred. To woo clients in the Great Lake Region, the society has patterned with a Kenyan based firm that has been in money transfer business for years. “We are working with Post-Payment from Kenya which has about 500 outlets to target customers in Diaspora. This is also meant to target our clients doing business in East Africa,” Brig Gen Geoffrey Byegeka, Zigama CSS Director General said on Monday. ‘‘What you need is to fill a form and give it to our employee. You are then given a number that you send to the recipient who presents it with his/her identification to get the money from any branch of Zigama,” he added. This service is the first of its kind in the whole country. Byegeka said it is in line with government’s strategy of promoting ICT in Rwanda. The relatively cheap money transfer service is to cut a potion of the market share, foreign companies have been enjoying while dominating this business. Byegeka said, “A person can send money and recipient gets it within five minutes or less.” Already people in Kimihurura, Kacyiru, Kanombe, Ministry of Defence, Nyarugenge, Muhanga, Huye and Rusizi are using Zigama money transfer service. Other areas include Karongi,Rubavu, Musanzi, Gicumbi, Ngoma, and Nyagatare. This innovation follows another where Zigama customers at headquarter are using Automatic Machine (ATM) services. Plans are underway to roll out the ATM services to all their branches. Other services offered include loan use management, debt consulting, service sensitisation and loan security awareness. Ends
