Vodacom Tanzania Unveils M-Pesa Global Payment for Seamless International Transactions

Vodacom Tanzania has launched M-Pesa Global Payment, a major upgrade allowing Tanzanian customers to transact with merchants around the world. The initiative, in partnership with Visa, Alipay (via Thunes), TerraPay, MTN Uganda, and other global partners, marks a key step in advancing digital trade and financial inclusion across Africa.

With the new service, M-Pesa users can:

• Tap to pay at any Visa-enabled merchant worldwide using a tokenised M-Pesa Visa card
• Transact with merchants on Alipay in China
• Make purchases in Dubai through TerraPay
• Pay merchants in Uganda directly via MTN MoMo wallets

All of this is available from the familiar M-Pesa menu or the M-Pesa Super App, providing an intuitive and secure digital payment experience.

Driving Cashless Transactions in Tanzania

Mobile money adoption in Tanzania has surged in recent years. From 2020 to 2024, subscriptions nearly doubled, reflecting a strong move toward cashless payments nationwide. According to Epimack Mbeteni, Director of M-Pesa at Vodacom Tanzania, the new partnerships allow businesses and consumers to transact internationally with the same ease as local payments, securely, instantly, and without traditional banking complexities.

These international corridors are expected to reduce business costs, enhance trade access, and open new opportunities in the global digital economy.

Empowering SMEs with Cross-Border Trade

For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), cross-border trade has been limited by unreliable payment systems. M-Pesa Global Payment enables Tanzanian businesses to pay for goods from Dubai, China, or other markets directly from their mobile wallets.

The Visa Tap & Pay feature introduces a first-of-its-kind contactless payment solution in Africa, allowing secure transactions without exposing card details. Victor Makere, Visa Tanzania Country Manager, emphasised that tokenisation enhances security and convenience, making global payments seamless.

Expanding Global Payment Networks

• Thunes: Powers payments via Alipay in China, connecting Tanzanian businesses to one of the largest e-commerce ecosystems worldwide
• TerraPay: Extends access to Dubai, a key Middle Eastern trade hub
• MTN Uganda: Facilitates seamless regional transactions, making cross-border trade easier for East African SMEs

These collaborations ensure that Tanzanian consumers and businesses can participate in international trade effortlessly, boosting regional commerce and economic growth.

Conclusion: A New Era for Digital Payments

With M-Pesa Global Payment, Vodacom Tanzania positions itself at the forefront of global mobile money innovation, enabling secure, fast, and convenient cross-border transactions. The upgrade not only supports SMEs but also strengthens Tanzania’s presence in the global digital economy.