BCC introduces cashless city rates payments

Key Business Points

Adopt mobile payment options for rates to boost cash flow and customer satisfaction.
Leverage OneKhusa integration to cut processing time and reduce errors. – Explore online portal rollout to expand digital services and attract investors.

Blantyre City Council (BCC) has partnered with payment aggregator OneKhusa to allow ratepayers to pay using mobile money, bank apps or other digital wallets directly from their phones. This partnership links the council’s billing platform with the fintech firm that connects multiple banks and mobile money services into one system, cutting manual work and reducing delays in reconciling transactions. The move supports faster cash collection and improves cash flow for local businesses that rely on timely municipal revenue. In a statement, BCC director of commerce and industry George Kaulemba said the arrangement is a milestone in the council’s drive to bring payments closer to the people. He added that easier payment methods can help small enterprises manage cash more predictably. OneKhusa commercial director Efrida Chigwe explained that the platform is designed to simplify digital transactions and improve financial inclusion for both consumers and merchants. The system is being rolled out with support from the World Bank and will also introduce an online portal where residents can pay their rates directly. Access to the portal will allow entrepreneurs to manage compliance online, freeing up time for core business activities. Chigwe noted that the solution aligns with Malawi’s broader goal of expanding digital finance across the country. Local entrepreneurs can now consider integrating these tools into their own payment processes to reduce overhead and improve service delivery. The initiative also opens opportunities for tech vendors and service providers to partner with BCC and offer complementary solutions. The initiative also opens opportunities for tech vendors and service providers to partner with BCC and offer complementary solutions. As more communities gain access to reliable digital payment channels, market confidence is expected to rise, encouraging investment in related sectors such as fintech, logistics and data analytics. Business owners in Malawi should take note of the rollout schedule and engage with local authorities to understand how the new system may affect their operations. By embracing these digital channels, firms can position themselves at the forefront of the country’s evolving economic landscape. They can also explore partnerships with fintech firms to stay ahead of market trends.

The new arrangement also creates a platform for local service providers to develop solutions that integrate with the BCC billing system. Start‑ups that specialize in e‑commerce gateways, inventory management or customer loyalty programs can build APIs that pull payment data directly from the portal. This integration reduces the need for reconciling and cuts the risk of errors that can frustrate both municipalities and traders. Moreover, the partnership signals growing confidence among international financiers in Malawi’s digital infrastructure. Development banks may be more willing to fund additional projects that expand mobile money coverage in rural areas, which in turn can stimulate trade and agricultural financing. Business leaders should monitor the rollout timeline and prepare their own systems to accept the new payment formats early, avoiding last‑minute scramble when the portal goes live. Finally, the shift toward payments aligns with the national vision of an economy, opening doors for innovation in areas such as micro‑insurance, tokenized assets and market insights that can be monetized by entrepreneurs.

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Vanessa Banda

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