Factors affecting adoption and usage of mobile money services by artisan gold miners: Case of Umzingwane District in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the factors which affect adoption and usage of mobile money services by artisan gold miners in Zimbabwe with reference to Umzingwane district. The study adopted a sequential explanatory research design with an objective of using a mixed research approach. Data was gathered using questionnaires from two hundred and seventy (270) artisan gold miners. The questionnaires consisted of both open ended and closed ended questions. The study revealed that artisan gold miners in Umzingwane district are literate. The study also found that artisan gold miners use and prefer cash to mobile money services. The study highlighted that the main challenge faced by artisan gold miners is that most shops in rural areas are not willing to accept mobile money payments and those which accept mobile money payments charge premium on top of the prices of goods. The study revealed that at 5% significance level, factors such as ease of use and perceived trust of mobile money services, unavailability of cash and handset costs were not statistically significant. Perceived cost of transacting, poor network, registration costs and social influence negatively affected adoption and usage of mobile money services by artisan gold miners. Security and education level of artisan gold miners positively affected adoption and usage of mobile money services. The study recommends that the government should reduce tax on mobile money payments and punish the businesses that are charging premiums on mobile money payments. Mobile money service providers should form partnership with rural shops so as to bring personal mobile money services close to the rural communities.