Vodacom M-Pesa Launches Global Payments with Visa, Alipay & MTN

Vodacom Tanzania has rolled out its expanded M-Pesa Global Payment service to dismantle barriers to international trade and accelerate digital financial inclusion. Forged through strategic partnerships with Visa, Alipay, Network International, Magnati, and MTN Uganda, this initiative empowers customers to transact globally with unprecedented ease. 

According to Africa Brief, users can now execute “Tap & Pay” transactions via a tokenised M-Pesa Visa card, pay merchants in China through Alipay (enabled by Thunes), conduct business in Dubai via TerraPay, and settle payments directly to MTN MoMo wallets in Uganda. You can access all these features directly from the M-Pesa menu or the M-Pesa Super App.

Designed to be both secure and user-centric, the new service eliminates the traditional banking hurdles that have long stifled traders and businesses. By integrating these diverse payment rails, M-Pesa has effectively evolved into one of the most sophisticated digital payment ecosystems on the continent.

“Our partnerships with VISA, Alipay, Network International, and MTN Uganda demonstrate our commitment to building a strong and interconnected digital payments ecosystem,” said Epimack Mbeteni, M-Pesa Director at Vodacom Tanzania. 

“Together, we are enabling people and businesses to transact across borders with the same ease as they transact locally, securely, instantly, and affordably. This is central to M-Pesa’s purpose: deepening financial inclusion and ensuring that digital innovation benefits every micro, small, and medium enterprise.”

A highlight of this launch is the M-Pesa Tap & Pay Solution with Visa, a first for Africa. This feature leverages tokenisation technology to allow customers to pay at any Visa terminal worldwide using their mobile phones, keeping their actual card details private.

Victor Makere, the visa country manager for Tanzania, emphasised the significance of this shift. “Tokenisation brings an added layer of safety and convenience, allowing customers to Tap & Pay globally without exposing their card details. This innovation supports Tanzania’s transition toward a fully digital payments ecosystem and empowers consumers with modern ways to pay.”

Furthermore, the collaboration with Thunes opens the massive Chinese market to African traders. Andrew Stewart, the Chief Revenue Officer at Thunes, expressed that the digitisation of cross-border payments significantly enhances accessibility. Together with Vodacom, we are making it possible for Tanzanian businesses to pay Chinese merchants instantly through the Alipay network, strengthening trust in mobile financial ecosystems.”

Regional trade also receives a significant boost through the partnership with MTN Uganda, simplifying transactions for SMEs that form the backbone of the East African economy. Richard Yego, MTN Mobile Money Uganda Director, welcomed the move as a significant stride toward seamless regional integration, unlocking greater financial access for cross-border traders.

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The rollout of M-Pesa mirrors a massive spate of fintech evolution currently gripping Nigeria. Nigeria is experiencing a pivotal shift in how value flows across borders, driven by a combination of foreign-exchange scarcity and a booming gig economy.

With a significant number of Nigerians migrating, the demand for two-way cross-border payment rails has exploded. It’s no longer just about receiving money (inbound); it is about paying for services, school fees, and goods abroad (outbound).

Just as M-Pesa is aggregating partners, Nigerian fintechs like Flutterwave, Paystack, Moniepoint, and OPay are aggressively integrating global payment rails. The recent struggle with naira debit cards working internationally has created a vacuum that virtual dollar cards and crypto rails are rapidly filling.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been forced to innovate, moving toward open banking frameworks that allow the kind of interoperability Vodacom is demonstrating. This is essentially a race between traditional banks and agile fintechs to see who can offer the seamless “Global Citizen” experience first.

The integration of Visa, Alipay, and mobile wallets such as MTN MoMo into a single platform represents a significant breakthrough for the African tourism sector. Historically, a Nigerian tourist visiting Tanzania or Dubai had to source dollars physically, travel with unsafe amounts of cash, and lose value at exchange bureaus. With innovations such as M-Pesa Global, tourists can effortlessly “scan and pay” or “tap and pay” in their local currency, which is instantly converted.

If Nigeria fully adopts similar aggregated payment rails, inbound tourism would surge. The diaspora returning for “Detty December” often struggle with failed international card transactions. A seamless mobile-wallet-to-merchant ecosystem would increase spending velocity at hotels, clubs, and cultural sites.

Furthermore, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) relies on the free movement of goods and payments. By connecting M-Pesa to MTN Uganda and other regional wallets, tourism becomes less frictional. A traveller can move from Kampala to Dar es Salaam without worrying about currency, encouraging multi-destination vacation packages across the continent.

Intrigued by the future of payments in Africa? Follow Rex Clarke Adventures today to stay ahead of the latest fintech trends, banking innovations, and economic shifts shaping the continent.

 

FAQs

1. What is the new M-Pesa Global Payment service?

It is an enhanced financial service from Vodacom Tanzania that allows users to make international payments, transact with merchants in China and Dubai, and send money to Uganda, all through the M-Pesa app or USSD menu.

2. How does the “Tap & Pay” feature work?

Through a partnership with Visa, M-Pesa users can create a tokenised virtual Visa card on their phone. They can then use their phone to “tap” and pay at any physical Visa terminal globally, just like a contactless credit card.

3. Can I use M-Pesa to pay for goods in China?

Yes. Through a partnership with Thunes and Alipay, M-Pesa users can pay merchants directly within the Alipay ecosystem, significantly simplifying trade and imports from China.

4. Do I need a bank account to use these global features?

No. The service is designed to eliminate banking barriers. You only need a registered Vodacom M-Pesa account to access these global payment options.

5. Is this service available for sending money to other African countries?

Yes. The launch includes a specific partnership with MTN Uganda, allowing direct wallet-to-wallet transfers between Tanzania and Uganda to support regional trade.