Launches Water Payment Services in Major Towns

May 21 , 2022


Residents of seven regional towns now have the option to settle their water utility payments through Ethio telecom's Telebirr mobile money platform. The state-owned operator has availed the services in Arba Minch, Harar, Bahir Dar, Finote Selam, Injibara, Dessie, and Combolcha after reaching agreements with the respective administrations. The Information Network Security Agency's Derash integrated payment platform is a crucial cog in the payment scheme. Officials hope the service will enhance the efficiency of water and sewerage service providers. Customers will be able to settle their bills remotely. Telebirr has garnered over 19 million subscribers since it was launched last May. Over 80 "super-agents", 67,000 agents, and 17,000 merchants have signed on. Ethio telecom began piloting pre-commercial 5G network services in Addis Abeba earlier this month.


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Parliament Reviews Bill Allowing Foreign Property Ownership

A draft proclamation that would allow foreigners to own or occupy immovable property in Ethiopia has been submitted to parliament by the Council of Ministers. Designed to attract foreign investment, the draft law plans to ensure that Ethiopian citizens retain their right to land ownership and use. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the draft was among six agenda items discussed and approved during the Council's regular session held on May 2, 2025. The proclamation is e...


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Speeding in the Spotlight as New Safety Drive Begins

The Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service has stated that drivers are responsible for 68 percent of traffic accidents in Ethiopia, with the remainder mainly caused by pedestrians and road conditions. On this topic, the service launched a one-month mass media campaign on last week focused on raising awareness about speeding, the leading cause of traffic accidents. The campaign, under the motto "Slow Down, Speeding Ruins Lives," plans to shed light on the dangers of speeding. Yohannes Lemma, E...


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Askari Metals Secures Five Gold Licenses in Untapped Adola Belt

Askari Metals has acquired 100pc of Rift Valley Metals, gaining five gold exploration licences covering 460sqkm in Ethiopia's Adola Greenstone Belt, part of the southern Arabian-Nubian Shield, a mineral-rich but underexplored region. "The exploration areas—Sakaro, Sakaro West, Lega Dembi South, Megado, and Wayu Boda—lie near Ethiopia's top gold mines, including Lega Dembi and Sakaro, which have produced over three million ounces of gold. The area is known for orogenic gold systems hosted...