Communities in some parts of Makonde district have bemoaned poor or lack of mobile connectivity, saying it is affecting communication and financial transactions via mobile platforms.

With most people using mobile money platforms to transact owing to the shortage of cash, the people are now being forced to get cash at a premium.

In interviews at Grain Marketing Board Mhangura, farmers who had delivered their grain said cash was hard to come by and most business operators had embraced mobile money transactions.

"We don't have mobile network in our area, hence we fail to buy using mobile money platforms such as EcoCash, OneMoney and Telecash," said Mr Ephraim Josaki from Gravelotte Farm in Mhangura.

"This means you need to have cash at all times, which is very difficult at the moment. So, to get money means you have to pay a premium. Money is coming at a high cost."

Apart from the unavailability of mobile network coverage, shops in areas with mobile connectivity are charging more for transactions on mobile platforms. This has seen farmers selling their produce for a song to middlemen who have cash so that they can be able to pay for goods they need.

They called on Government to intervene so that they were not ripped off.

"We are confident that the newly-elected and inaugurated President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa would bring to normalcy the cash shortages so that we enjoy our hard-earned money," said Mr Trymore Mashiri.

Senator for Makonde, Cde Prisca Mupfumira, said she had approached some mobile network providers who promised to install base stations across the district to improve communication.

"We have engaged mobile network providers across the board requesting that they provide coverage in remote areas as people rely more on the mobile money platforms to transact," she said.

Network coverage has always been a challenge in Makonde district, which ironically is closer to Chinhoyi town, and coverage outside the 40-kilometre radius around the town is erratic and non-existent in some areas.