Proceedings of Botho University International Research Conference (BUIRC 2025)

<Previous Article In Volume
Next Article In Volume>

Harnessing The Transformative Power of Mobile Money Towards Saving Among Rural Informal Businesses in Lesotho

Authors
Mamots’eli Ntlatlapa1, *, Emmanuel Zhanda1
1Faculty of Business and Accounting, Botho University, Maseru, 100, Lesotho
*Corresponding author. Email: mamotseli.ntlatlapa@bothouniversity.ac.bw
Corresponding Author
Mamots’eli Ntlatlapa
Available Online 12 December 2025.
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-906-3_14How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Informal businesses; Mobile Money; Financial Inclusion; Savings; Lesotho
Abstract

This study explored the role of Mobile money (M-money) in improving savings among rural informal traders to contribute towards sustainable development of rural areas. M-money and other digital payment methods have improved in recent years, leading to increased financial inclusion in the formal financial system. The study was motivated by the growth of informal traders in rural areas and yet there is limited financial inclusion. If people have access to formal financial services, it allows them to budget, save, and ensure stable financial lives subsequently reducing poverty. The study adopted a qualitative method. The target population was the informal traders operating in rural areas of Lesotho. A non-probability, convenience sampling technique was used. A sample size of twenty-five informal business owners from five districts was used. Primary data was collected using interviews adopting close-ended and semi-structured questions. Data was analyzed using content analysis. The study revealed that the use of M-money has the potential to overcome the barriers to financial inclusion and enable money savings for informal rural businesses. The study recommends financial education initiatives on the usefulness of M-money and prioritizing financial literacy for older adults, and those who are of low economic status.

Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Download article (PDF)

<Previous Article In Volume
Next Article In Volume>
Volume Title
Proceedings of Botho University International Research Conference (BUIRC 2025)
Series
Atlantis Highlights in Sustainable Development
Publication Date
12 December 2025
ISBN
978-94-6463-906-3
ISSN
3005-155X
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-906-3_14How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Mamots’eli Ntlatlapa
AU  - Emmanuel Zhanda
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/12
TI  - Harnessing The Transformative Power of Mobile Money Towards Saving Among Rural Informal Businesses in Lesotho
BT  - Proceedings of Botho University International Research Conference (BUIRC 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 255
EP  - 269
SN  - 3005-155X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-906-3_14
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-906-3_14
ID  - Ntlatlapa2025
ER  -