Last weekend someone passed a comment in a group discussion saying, “Lucy is obsessed with this cashless thing and I just don’t know why!” Someone else added,, “she sure is and I can’t understand why she won’t let it go, now 7 years and counting – Lucy, Rwanda heard you, you can stop now!” Amusing, right? I recall someone advising me to find another calling/brand as this “cashless thing” has run its course.

As usual, I smile through it because I can’t understand how people who pay easily most places they go, with their card, don’t get that I simply want the same for ALL our people, everywhere. Rwanda was only warm up for this marathon, which I intend to run to the finish line.

Here’s what I think when some of you make snarky comments, roll your eyes, put fingers in your ears and go blah blah blah, or whatever, when I utter cashless.

First, thank you for fueling the obsession :-).

Second, You have two options, GET USED to this OR Ignore.

Last but not least, one thing is sure, I shall never give until it is easy, safe and convenient for Africans everywhere to pay and be paid, just as it is for you and I.

Many of our people put in long days away from family, to earn a living and many go great lengths to keep it safe. For most of Africa, it is difficult to keep their monies safe. When they choose to keep it safe in the bank, where they can also compound with some interest, they have EVERY RIGHT to access it when and where they want it. They shouldn’t have to travel anywhere to look for a branch, agent, ATM to access their monies. And since they are getting money to pay someone – somewhere, why not get that person or place to accept digital payments to make it easy all around, you know, go cashless?

I’ll say this again. When cash is king in circulation, no one wins, except those who don’t like transparency and accountability a.k.a corruption. As Africa become cashless, there’s greater accuracy in measuring our economy instead of the guesstimates we have today, which make people think we are poor. We shall also have more money in our treasury reserves to fund development projects, be it for individuals, corporates or governments, at affordable rates, which will show Africans DO have a savings culture!

Wouldn’t you like your mortgage at under 10%, I know I would!

Wouldn’t you want to see less international loans/aid thanks to availability of funds locally saving us and generations to come from paying these for a long time? God knows I look forward to this day, and it can’t happen for a cash economy!

Therefore I say, get on this cashless train and use your voice/influence to make it happen OR get out the way. When digital payments are a way of life for many Africans, I’ll see myself out to a classroom somewhere, trust :-).

Thank you :-).