đź“ŚRevolutionizing business transactions and easing payments for Tanzanian customers and merchants.
28 November 2025 – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Vodacom Tanzania, the country’s leading telecommunications company, has officially launched its international payment service (M-Pesa Global Payments)—a transformative step that revolutionizes business operations and simplifies payments for Tanzanian customers and merchants who travel or conduct business beyond the country’s borders, while enhancing digital financial inclusion.
Through partnerships with VISA, Alipay, Network International, Magnati, and MTN Uganda, customers can now make payments worldwide using the Tap & Pay system by tapping their phones equipped with an M-Pesa Visa card on payment machines, pay merchants in China through Alipay using a system powered by Thunes, transact in Dubai with merchants connected through TerraPay, and make direct payments to merchants in Uganda via their MTN MoMo wallets—all through the M-Pesa Super App or the M-Pesa Menu.
These services are secure, easy to use, and eliminate challenges associated with traditional banking systems. Collectively, they position M-Pesa as one of the most advanced digital payment ecosystems in Africa. This launch empowers Tanzanian customers and frequent travelers who make regular payments across East Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and other regions—who often face high costs, delays, or security gaps from other payment systems.
Epimack Mbeteni, Director of M-Pesa at Vodacom Tanzania, said:
“Our partnership with VISA, Alipay, Network International, and MTN Uganda demonstrates our commitment to building strong digital payment systems. Together, we are enabling people to make payments across borders with the same ease they enjoy within Tanzania—securely, quickly, and affordably.”
Mbeteni added, “This is the core vision of M-Pesa: to advance financial inclusion and ensure digital innovation benefits small, medium, and large entrepreneurs, as well as customers with individual payment needs. Through this collective strength, we are opening new business pathways, reducing operational costs, and giving customers greater freedom to participate in the digital economy.”
This launch introduces a new innovation—M-Pesa Tap & Pay, powered by Visa—the first of its kind in Africa. It enables customers to make payments worldwide by simply tapping their phones equipped with an M-Pesa Visa card on Visa-enabled payment terminals.
Victor Makere, Visa Country Manager for Tanzania, said:
“Through this partnership, we are enabling millions of M-Pesa customers to enjoy safe and convenient digital payments wherever Visa is accepted. Tap & Pay technology allows customers to make payments by tapping their phone near a Visa-enabled payment machine without inserting card details or a PIN. Payments are deducted directly through the digital M-Pesa Visa card stored on the phone. This increases safety and convenience, allowing customers to pay globally without exposing sensitive information. This innovation supports Tanzania’s journey toward a digital payment economy and empowers customers and businesses with more modern payment options.”
Through the Thunes Network, M-Pesa customers can now pay merchants in China using the Alipay system quickly and securely.
Andrew Stewart, Chief Revenue Officer at Thunes, noted:
“Digitizing cross-border payments is a crucial step that expands access and supports our mission to empower billions of users to fully participate in the global economy. Through our partnership with Vodacom, we are enabling Tanzanian businesses to instantly pay Chinese merchants through the Alipay network. This new level of connectivity and innovation enhances trust in mobile financial systems and opens new avenues for global trade.”
TerraPay, which enables international merchant payments, now allows M-Pesa users to transact with merchants in Dubai through its wide network.
Willie Kanyeki, Vice President for TerraPay Sub-Saharan Africa, said:
“At TerraPay, we believe in connecting systems and enabling borderless payments. Our partnership with Vodacom expands safe business opportunities for Tanzanians conducting transactions in Dubai, linking African users to new global markets.”
For digital payments in Uganda via MTN MoMo, MTN plays a vital role in simplifying cross-border business for small and medium enterprises.
Richard Yego, Executive Director of MTN Mobile Money Uganda, stated:
“This partnership marks an important step toward free and sustainable trade within the region. Together with Vodacom, we are expanding access to financial services for thousands of merchants operating across the Uganda–Tanzania border, especially SMEs, who form the backbone of our economies.”
With the widespread use of mobile financial services and the rising number of smartphones in Tanzania, these solutions are essential tools for ordinary customers and SMEs in need of reliable, fast, and simple financial services.
As M-Pesa continues to grow as a safe and convenient global payment solution, Vodacom Tanzania remains committed to building an inclusive digital economy and transforming lives through technology.
