Daily activities in the Somalia capital Mogadishu came to a standstill after the EVC PLUS mobile money transfer experienced hitches
Thousands of Somalis amd businesses which depend on the money transfer system provided by leading telecommunication company Hormuud were stranded on Wednesday
At the Hormuud headquarters hundred of people queued to inquire about the hitch
EVC PLUS is the preferred form of purchase in hotels, restaurants, bajaajs and Tax system in a country whose alternative currency is the US Dollar.
The EVC is seen as the convenient means of purchase since the US Dollar has no change.
Hormuud Telecommunication confirmed that they are experiencing technical hitches but told Radio Dalsan that its engineers were working to resume normal operations
Subscribers in Kismayo Jowhar and Adado have also reported experiencing the hitches
EVC PLUS was launched 7 years ago by Hormuud
The value of the Somali Shillin depleted following the break out of the civil war in 1991
But monetary experts say that the value has appreciated recently attributing this to the introduction of the EVC Plus mobile money transfer
“Although the official currency is the USD majority of the population does not use it. If the EVC faces problems then the whole of South and Central Somalia will be affected” a monetary expert said
In the past officials at the central bank of Somalia have called for the government to introduce a new currency but political and security challenges remain a top priority for the administration
