Mbabane: MTN Eswatini senior executives have set up a relief fund to the value of E100 000, whose objective is to support staff who may find themselves vulnerable during this time of COVID-19 crisis. It is also to incur costs that may not be covered through their medical aid.
MTN Eswatini Corporate Affairs Manager Mandla Luphondvo acknowledged that its staff may have different levels of vulnerabilities hence the establishment of this fund. “As we speak, there is an ongoing survey across all MTN staff which seeks to establish, in detail, the specific health needs of staff, to explore concrete ways of supporting those needs which will be identified,” said Luphondvo.
In addition, MTN is giving all its customers 15 free SMS each week, which is meant to enable customers to share messages of encouragement with their loved ones and support the dissemination of credible health messages.
“MTN is working with the Ministry of Health to provide an SMS platform through which they can share educational short messages with the public,” said Luphondvo.
The company has reserved a detail for leaners where they have zero-rated its EduCare website to enable students to access a wealth of academic information without incurring costs as they are currently unable to go to school because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, MTN has designed a highly subsidised data bundle that would enable leaners to have access to educational websites and learning platforms. This covers all levels of students – primary, high and tertiary students. This initiative is run with the guidance of the Ministry of Education and training. The website has been revamped with fresh content for primary and high school students so they have content that is updated and aligned with their school syllabus.
MTN Mobile Money
Luphondvo mentioned that MTN MoMo is now free for transfers of less than E100. This means that valued customers can transfer no more than E100 daily at no cost. He added that during this time of COVID-19, MTN has zero-rated all MoMo payments to retail payments and all other outlets that accept MoMo as a form of payment. This is MTN’s contribution to ensure that our customers do not physically handle money as it could potentially contribute to the spread of COVID-19. MTN’s flagship bundle, WOW Bundles have a 100% bonus which customers could use from 11 pm to 5 am. “This is to ensure that there is no congestion on the network of choice during the day given that people are working from home, learning from home, which means the demand for internet services is massive,” said Luphondvo.
Through MTN MoMo the elderly can make two (2) free withdrawals, which means they can withdraw from their MoMo without incurring any charges. This is applicable from this season where they are receiving social grants through the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, going forward. “This is one of many ways through which MTN seeks to demonstrate appreciation to the elderly for their support since the company started operating in the kingdom over twenty years ago,” said Luphondvo. Additionally, said Luphondvo, this is an acknowledgement of the socio-economic contribution the elderly have made to this country.
He mentioned that during this time of crisis, MTN Eswatini has tailored a wide range of products and services to meet its customers half-way. As a caring brand, MTN seeks to walk with its customers awake to the fact that this is a difficult season for them and would do with support. The phone company has also partnered with the Ministry of Health in supporting some of their communication needs, which is an on-going support for the duration of the national response to COVID-19.
On one hand, seeing the increase in abuse cases, MTN has partnered with SWAGAA to subsidise their toll-free line. “The aspiration is to eventually support the toll-free line completely, so that SWAGAA, a non-profit making organisation which has done commendable work in the past three decades, is enabled to provide support to people experiencing different forms of abuse which affects the quality of their lives,” said Luphondvo.
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