VOA慢速英语--South Sudan Launches Mobile Money Service

 

People living in South Sudan now have the ability to send and receive money using their phones. The mobile money system is an attempt to help the country’s economy after a five-year civil war took an estimated 400,000 lives.

The companies m-GURUSH and Nilepay began providing mobile money service in August. Both have partnered with Zain, one of two mobile service operators in South Sudan.

In recent weeks, the streets in the capital city of Juba have been filled with advertisements urging people to start banking¹ from their phones.

The companies hope people already using mobile money in neighboring countries, like Kenya and Uganda, can persuade locals that it is more financially secure than carrying cash.

Darius Mobe is director of the Nilepay service. He said more than 80 percent of money in South Sudan is not kept in banks since most of them are based in Juba.

He added, “Mobile money should make access to funds easier for people in rural villages, creating more financial inclusion.” He said this means people can have a bigger part in the economy.

However, many problems need to be overcome before mobile money becomes widespread. Many people in the country are unable to read. And, many do not have identification documents needed to register with the service.

Government officials say only 16 percent of the population has identification cards. Because of this, people can receive money; but they are charged more to withdraw it and are unable to send cash.

Another problem is a weak telecommunications network.

Years of civil war damaged or destroyed half of Zain’s cell towers, said marketing³ official Ahmed Hussein. Before fighting began in 2013, Zain covered nine out of 10 states with almost 400 cell towers across the country. Now it has less than 200.

Zain is trying to increase coverage⁴ starting with major cities such as Juba, Aweil and Bentiu.

Some local people worry about trusting telecommunication² networks. Last year Vivacell, a popular mobile company, was closed without warning, locking out hundreds of thousands of users. South Sudan’s government said Vivacell was closed for not obeying communications rules.

Ladu Wani Kenyi is director general for the national communications authority. He said the government wants to set up a system that directly gives telecommunication officials and the Central Bank records. That way, they would not have to depend on companies like Nilepay and m-GURUSH to provide the information.

However, some South Sudanese are unwilling⁵ to use mobile money.

One citizen, Rhoda Fresa, shook her head when asked by a mobile money agent if she wanted to register for the new service.

“My people are all in a refugee camp in Uganda,” she said of her family. “Who am I going to send money to here?”

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

authority – n. a government organization that has control of a specified activity or area

1 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

2 telecommunication   

n.电信，远距离通信

参考例句：

• Telecommunication is an industry of service.电信业是一个服务型的行业。
• I only care about the telecommunication quality and the charge.我只关心通信质量和资费两个方面。

3 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

4 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

5 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。