By CLAVER MUTINTA –
PUMA  Energy Zambia has partnered with Visa Zambia to promote visa card usage when paying for fuel at all Puma service stations countrywide.
The two organisations have launched a consumer fuel promotion dubbed ‘Win Free Fuel at Puma Energy With Visa’  from February 21 to April 18 this year.
During the period of promotion, Puma Energy and Visa Zambia would give away a full tank of fuel to two lucky customers on a daily basis, and many other instant prizes to customers who swipe for fuel.
But the biggest prize is a weekly winner of fuel for one year. By just swiping at Puma service stations, motorists are automatically entered to participate in the promotion.
Puma Energy Zambia Managing Director Yahaya Yunusa said drawing cash from Auto Teller Machines(ATMs) and  pay for fuel at service stations was inconveniencing and cumbersome.
“This process is not only cumbersome and time consuming but also unsafe and very expensive. Puma Energy Zambia in partnership with Visa Zambia brings an exciting innovation that allows our esteemed customers to have a simple, safe and convenient method of payment when purchasing fuel,” he explained.
Mr Yunusa assured motorists that they would enjoy their freedom at Puma service stations and conveniently pay for the commodity using a visa card.
“We are pleased to announce the launch of an exciting promotion which will see motorists who buy fuel using their visa cards at any of our 46 stations nationwide stand a chance to win free fuel and many other exciting prizes,” he said.
And Visa Zambia says all visa card holders in the country were are eligible to participate irrespective of the bank they are affiliated to.
Country Manager, Salome Makau, however, pointed out that lack of awareness among Zambians was a major factor in not using visa cards to pay for goods and services.
“We have noted one key barrier for card usage in Zambia, and indeed the region could be lack of awareness to the benefits of electronic payment. Some consumers are not even aware that their visa cards can be used for anything else other than ATM withdrawals.
“We would like to encourage you to use your visa cards to pay at merchant outlets. It is the most secure way to pay. When you withdraw cash at ATMs, you are charged. But if you use your visa card to pay for goods and services, like fuel at Puma, it is free,” she said.
Ms Makau encouraged motorists to use the more secure, cheap and pin cards to enhance spending and transactions.
While the campaign for the usage of visa cards for payments is gaining momentum, Government is leading in the use of similar technology as payment for fuel at service stations is done through Tom Cards.
Minister of Energy, Mathew Nkhuwa said the win free fuel at Puma Energy with Visa innovation seeks to offer convenient electronic payment solution in the motoring public.
“I would like to encourage other relevant stakeholders in this sector to follow suit and support the growth of this sector so that Zambian citizens can benefit from initiatives like what we are witnessing through the promotion of visa cards usage when paying for fuel at Puma service stations,” he said.
Mr Nkhuwa explained that the promotion of usage of visa cards was a clear demonstration of private sector involvement in supporting Government policies in the petroleum sector.
The Minister urged banks to encourage their customers to avoid moving with cash to make payments as it was risky, but use visa cards.
Usually when a new service or product is offloaded onto the market, there is reluctance by customers to embrace and consume it, only to appreciate it later. – Story courtesy of SUMA SYSTEMS