Mastercard and Selcom have expanded their collaboration by signing a seven year strategic partnership agreement to introduce a variety of payment solutions in the country, thus supporting Tanzania’s goal of becoming a cashless economy.
Tanzanian’s will be enabled to transact more conveniently, quickly and securely at more payment acceptance locations. Already consumers, retailers and local businesses are benefiting from the introduction of Masterpass QR currently being implemented across various retailers and merchants. Consumers will now also gain access to a wide variety of payment solutions that will be accessible on mobile money platforms or via their bank.
“Tanzanians have proven to have an appetite for digital payments, particularly mobile. The country had over 40 million mobile phone subscribers in 2017, showing the potential to create and scale innovative solutions on this platform” says Sameer Hirji, Executive Director of Selcom.
“With the wider variety of payment options at consumers’ fingertips, it is equally important to ensure that they are able to use these solutions wherever they may be paying for goods or services,” said Raghav Prasad, Mastercard Division President for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The partnership will result in Selcom’s 17000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals and extensive ATM network being able to accept local and international Mastercard card payments and cash withdrawals.
“In order for us to narrow the gap and ensure Tanzanians have access to relevant financial tools, our approach with Selcom is to build a stronger payment ecosystem. Our partnership will strengthen key areas of the economy, thus better equipping businesses and consumers to replace cash with secure and convenient payment options, whether they be on mobile or card solutions – it is not a one size fits all approach,” said Prasad.
Given the country’s high rate of mobile money account usage, Selcom will introduce a Mastercard card linked to a mobile wallet, which gives the user the ability to withdraw cash or pay in-store or online. Additionally, in an effort to support online payments, merchants will gain access to the Mastercard Payments Gateway Services platform, which helps e-retailers to accept payments for web purchase both from local and international users – further expanding the options for consumers on how they wish to make purchases.
Customers of over twenty banks and mobile network providers in Tanzania already connected to Selcom will also have access to a number of other solutions including: virtual cards for safe online purchases and Mastercard debit and prepaid cards.
