Swipe and win fuel with VISA and ENGEN Zambia

VISA, a leader in global payments, has partnered with ENGEN Petroleum Zambia to give away fuel to consumers who use their VISA cards to purchase fuel in a promotion dubbed “Drive Free with Engen”.

The 8 week promotion, which was launched on Monday at the Engen Chainama service station along Great East Road in Lusaka, will run until 28 th October 2016 and aims to highlight to consumers that using VISA cards for everyday purchases offers greater security, control and convenience than transacting with cash; it is also one way of ensuring personal finances are managed effectively with minimal costs for the cardholder.

“This promotion is a win-win for consumers as they will not only enjoy the usual benefits of paying with their VISA card, but will also be rewarded through our partnership with ENGEN Petroleum Zambia,” said VISA Zambia Country Manager, Ms Salome Makau.

The promotion will see motorists who pay for their fuel using their VISA card, at 29 participating ENGEN service stations dotted across the country, entered into the promotion.

Makau said that two consumers will be rewarded with a free full tank on a daily basis over the next 8 weeks, whilst there will be 8 main weekly prizes of a year’s worth of fuel. During activation days, the Drive Free with Engen promotion will have daily winners of prizes including branded T- shirts, pens, notebooks and Airtel and MTN airtime.

“We want to make paying for fuel and other commodities and services at fuel service stations as convenient as possible for motorists,” added Makau.

Engen Petroleum Zambia Managing Director Mr Jean-blaise Ollomo said:

“Engen’s partnership with VISA marks a great milestone in bringing innovation to the petroleum industry.We are pleased to offer our customers a very convenient payment method as they buy their fuel. As we do so, we would like to give back part of our profits to our valued customers”.

One of the key barriers to card usage in Zambia is the lack of awareness of the benefits of electronic payments. Consumers are not aware that they can use their card to make 2 payments at point of sale at no extra cost aside from withdrawing cash at the ATM, which has cost implications.

Also in attendance at the launch event was the CEO of FNB Zambia, Mr Leonard Haynes, who commented on how shared platforms provide consumers with immense benefits. He said:

“As FNB, our primary objective is to help consumers across the country by giving them the ability to access banking and financial services more conveniently through innovative platforms and payment solutions.Digital banking platforms, such as the Fuel Station solution we have implemented for Engen in collaboration with VISA, are ideal channels for providing secure financial solutions to consumers”.

The increased uptake and usage of cards may be attributed to the growing middle class who prefer cards to cash and the migration of the industry to the more secure chip and pin standards leading to growing acceptance of cards as a safe and convenient mode of payment.

By championing safe financial transactions, VISA has undertaken to align its business strategy with client banks, and the efforts of the Zambian Government to fast track digitization of secure payments and financial inclusion.