This is the paradox of Tabaski. Despite the current economic situation affecting the country, transactions are going well in banks and other money transfer points, less than 72 hours before this religious event. Report!
Sheep, condiments, new clothes, hairstyle, shoes, finery, among others. These endless expenses make Tabaski a particularly hard holiday for the purse of fathers and mothers. A situation that requires transactions at banks and mobile money agencies. In these financial structures, there is a lot of movement on the eve of the feast commemorating the gesture of Abraham to whom God had ordered to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.
9:35 am, we are in front of a bank located in Hann Maristes. On this morning of Wednesday, July 6, the waiting room is too small to contain the customers who come to deposit, withdraw or send money. « I came since 8 am to withdraw money. But I found dozens of customers who came for the same reasons, » says Adji Arame Diop. This civil servant, about forty, explains this situation by the feast of Tabaski. « Every year, the situation is the same. Moreover, it is to avoid the rush that I had decided to come early. But I will still wait. It will soon be my turn, » adds this resident of Dalifort. According to her, the money is very useful in this period of high demand. « There are needs that cannot wait until the day before. That’s why we want to withdraw a sum of money in order to make certain expenses especially for the children’s things », she concludes.
Found in front of the door of the bank, Cheikh Fall said she had enormous difficulties to access the waiting room to quietly take her ticket. « As you can see, the room is already full. There are no more chairs available for customers. That’s why I went outside to wait for the situation to settle down, » he says, looking tired.
The minutes pass, the queues continue to grow to the point that some customers, with their numbers, are waiting outside until the luckiest make their transaction and free up seats to join the waiting room and in turn queue until the transaction.
Inconveniences on the network
Another place, same observation. We are in front of another bank located not far from the traffic circle of Hann. Despite the high temperature at this time of day, entries and exits are frequent. Moussa Fédior is a young student. Giving the reasons for his arrival on the scene, he explains: « It is my dad, established in Europe, who sent me money for the needs of Tabaski ». Not without deploring the rush recorded in this structure slowing down the business inside. « I have done more than an hour to wait for my turn. But transactions are very slow. That’s why I went out to get some fresh air while waiting for my turn, » he adds.
The problem here is not only the lack of space. It is also the recurrent blockages caused by the network problem. At least that’s what the few customers we met outside told us.
« The cashier informed us that they have a network problem due to the large number of transactions in recent days. We will have to wait for their technician to fix the technical problem, » said a middle-aged man who requested anonymity.
According to him, these kinds of malfunctions are understandable especially in this period of high demand. Quite the opposite of Sokhna Faty, who believes she does not understand the situation. Draped in her low waist wax, this lady, behind her clear glasses, exclaims: « Each time, they point the finger at the network. Me, I say that it is not a valid reason to delay people like that. If they know that it’s always the same problem, why not make arrangements well in advance ».
Very angry, this resident of the catchment area believes that these problems are only noted in Senegal. « I do not agree when I am told that the customer must show understanding during the holiday period. The customer is king. So, holiday or not holiday, we should make the transaction quickly for him so he can go to his other occupations, because he has many. This happens only in our country, » she adds.
The situation is almost identical in the money transfer points where it is already the effervescence. « Alhamdoulilah, business is going on little by little. Customers are starting to come to make their transactions on the occasion of the feast of Tabaski, » says Fatou, manager of a famous money transfer point, located in Hann Maristes.
This resident of the catchment area is very enthusiastic and believes that these problems are only found in Senegal. « I do not agree when I am told that the customer must show understanding during the holiday period. The customer is king. So, holiday or not holiday, we should make the transaction quickly for him so he can go to his other occupations, because he has many. This happens only in our country, » she adds.
The situation is almost identical in the money transfer points where it is already the effervescence. « Alhamdoulilah, business is going on little by little. Customers are starting to come to make their transactions on the occasion of the feast of Tabaski, » says Fatou, manager of a famous money transfer point, located in Hann Maristes.
With a smile on her face, this young lady, in the middle of a discussion with a client, adds: « We are very tired. We sit down all day long. Because we are experiencing an upsurge in solicitations. The Senegalese have to send money to their families and others withdraw the money sent to them.
The managers of these transfer points also say that they are facing network problems. A situation that, according to Fatou, slows down business. « You know, it is thanks to the connection that we manage to do our work. And there are times when it becomes saturated. Sometimes we can even go a whole day without a connection. This causes us a lot of inconvenience », she laments.
A few meters away, another multiservice manager, located not far from the main road, tells the same ordeal. « For the past few days, we have been receiving a lot of customers unlike on ordinary days. Transactions are done quietly », says Modou. Only, regrets our interlocutor, « it is the network that sometimes poses problems. But it is an understandable situation and it is practically at the national level. The owner says that many customers are attracted by the promotions. « Currently, all networks are doing promotions of Tabaski. And, hoping to be among the lucky winners, some do not hesitate to send or withdraw money. I think this is what attracts customers, » he says.
On the side of the customers, the comments are going well. I chose the « mobile-bank » because of their speed, to send money to my parents who are in Fouta. But now, it’s starting to get worrying. I’ve been to a few places, but it’s the same old story. I am told that there is a connection problem, » said Demba Sow.
The customers have not failed, also, to castigate the insecurity that prevails in front of financial structures and especially at the level of automatic teller machines (Gab). « There are aggressors in the banks. There are some who are only there to pluck the valiant Senegalese. It is necessary that the structures strengthen their security system so that people make their transactions in peace, » advises El Malick Sarr. This retired banker adds that these moments of haste and alertness are profitable to pickpockets and muggers.
In any case, even if many Senegalese say they do not see money circulating, banks and money transfer offices are taken by storm a few days before Tabaski.
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