Vodacom M-Pesa Tanzania has launched M-Pesa Global Payment, a revolutionary expansion of its mobile money platform that facilitates instant cross-border payments for millions of consumers and businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa. The massive rollout, supported by strategic partnerships with Visa, Alipay, Thunes, TerraPay, and MTN Uganda, is designed to eliminate traditional banking barriers and deepen financial inclusion by positioning M-Pesa as one of Africa’s most advanced digital payment systems.
The new M-Pesa Global Payment suite offers Tanzanians a comprehensive set of international transaction capabilities directly from their M-Pesa menu or Super App. The process is secure, user-friendly, and specifically built to bypass the high cost and complexity of traditional banking processes for traders and businesses.
A digital highway for global trade
Key among the new features is the M-Pesa Tap & Pay Solution with Visa, which is the first of its kind in Africa. This innovation allows customers to make secure, seamless, contactless payments worldwide using a tokenized card linked to their mobile phone. Victor Makere, country manager of Visa Tanzania, highlighted that the tokenization brings an added layer of safety and convenience, allowing customers to pay globally using their mobile phones without exposing their card details.
Furthermore, the launch opens up critical trade corridors to Asia and the Middle East. Through Thunes’ Direct Global Network, M-Pesa customers can now pay merchants in China within the Alipay ecosystem, supporting fast, secure international trade. Andrew Stewart, chief revenue officer at Thunes, added that this new level of interoperability and innovation strengthens trust in mobile financial ecosystems and opens new avenues for international trade.
For those doing business or travelling to the Middle East, the partnership with TerraPay enables M-Pesa users to transact with select merchants in Dubai through its global payment network. Willie Kanyeki, Vice President of Sub-Saharan Africa at TerraPay, noted that this specifically expands secure digital commerce opportunities for Tanzanians doing business in the UAE, connecting African consumers to new global markets.
Simplifying regional commerce
The expansion also dramatically simplifies regional trade across East Africa. M-Pesa users can now pay merchants in Uganda directly into MTN MoMo wallets, with MTN acting as the enabling partner. Richard Yego, MTN Mobile Money Uganda director, welcomed the collaboration, saying it marks a major stride toward seamless regional trade and unlocking greater financial access for thousands of cross-border traders and SMEs.
Epimack Mbeteni, M-Pesa Director at Vodacom Tanzania, stated that the multi-partner approach demonstrates the firm’s commitment to building a strong and interconnected digital payments ecosystem. “Together, we are enabling people and businesses to transact across borders with the same ease as they transact locally, securely, instantly, and affordably,” Mbeteni explained. He added that this is central to M-Pesa’s purpose of deepening financial inclusion and ensuring that digital innovation benefits every micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) across Tanzania.
By combining these solutions, Vodacom Tanzania reinforces its commitment to building an inclusive digital economy, providing reliable, fast, and convenient financial tools that transform lives through technology.