The Role OOf Mobile Money IoIn Enhancing Digital Financial Inclusion & Efficiency Oof Small And Medium Enterprises (SMEs) IIn Zambia - A Case Analysis In Kasama District, Zambia

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are vital to Zambia's economic development, yet their efficiency is constrained by limited access to finance and macro-economic challenges such as inflation and exchange rate volatility among others. The Zambian government established the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) to spearhead the growth of SMEs in the country and as a strategy to boost economic growth. The rise of mobile money platforms, such as Airtel and MTN Money, offer a potential solution to the enhancement of SME efficiency as they provide faster and more accessible financial transactions. However, limited research exists on how mobile money impacts SMEs efficiency in Zambia. This study investigates the effects of mobile money on SME efficiency in Kasama District in 2024, guided by the Technology Acceptance Model and Keynesian Economic Recession Theory. Using a qualitative descriptive sample survey design, data was collected from eighty (80) respondents selected through simple random and purposive sampling. The objectives were to assess SME growth in 2024, evaluate mobile money's impact on SME efficiency, and propose ways to enhance efficiency through mobile money adoption. Findings reveal that over seventy percent (70%) of SMEs used mobile money, leading to increased annual revenue and employee numbers, though physical expansion remained limited. Mobile money enhanced efficiency by increasing transaction speed and sales volume, aligning with its perceived usefulness and ease of use. Key barriers include unreliable networks, security concerns, and low technological literacy, particularly in rural areas. The study recommends that SMEs integrate mobile money into transactions, employees undergo technology training, and the government implements the National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy to improve network reliability and cybersecurity while addressing macro-economic factors to support SME growth.