STATE-OWNED mobile network operator NetOne has decentralised its retail operations, establishing company-run shops in marginalised areas of Matabeleland North province to improve financial inclusion and service accessibility.
The initiative is designed to bring services, particularly OneWallet management, closer to customers in underserved communities, according to NetOne regional manager Gugulethu Mpofu.
“We are trying to get close to them by opening NetOne shops at their doorsteps,” Mpofu said.
“We would like to thank the people from those areas for their support and seek permission from local leadership to assist and empower them.”
Mpofu confirmed that throughout the past year, NetOne has successfully set up shops in key districts across the region.
“NetOne has opened shops in various locations, including Tsholotsho, Lupane, Binga, Nkayi and Hwange, among others.
“These shops are managed by NetOne, providing employment opportunities and empowering local communities.”
Beyond these company-operated stores, NetOne also relies on a network of channel partners to distribute airtime and SIM cards, creating an additional layer of economic activity.
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The decentralisation strategy is a core part of NetOne’s mission to widen its customer base and simplify access to digital financial services.
“By empowering local communities, NetOne aims to enable them to engage in income-generating activities,” Mpofu added.
NetOne head of public relations Richard Mahomva emphasised the company’s focus on stakeholder engagement over profit.
“We want to demonstrate that we are not an institution that is all about profit,” he said.
“We will register the concerns raised and assure you that with our quality board, chief executive officer and leadership, we will attend to these critical issues.
“The people of this region matter. We want to combine our technical expertise with the creativity of the media to deliver the national agenda to the people.”
Company executives said the expansion to Matabeleland North signified a targeted effort to bridge the digital and financial divide, positioning NetOne as a key player in fostering local economic development through telecommunications.
