Tigo, Mastercard strike deal on digital payment platform

Dar es Salaam. Tanzanians can now be able to use their TigoPesa app to make quick, easy and secure payments, thanks to the launch of Masterpass (Quick Response) QR.

The Masterpass QR, the brainchild of Mastercard and Tigo, allows Tigo subscribers to make easy payments at various stores, restaurants and retail outlets across the country and everywhere else where Mastercards are accepted.

“We are revolutionising the digital payment system in Tanzania. With TigoPesa Masterpass QR, we are eliminating the need for one to carry cash,” said the Tigo Tanzania managing director, Mr Simon Karikari.

With 6.9 million subscribers at the end of March 2018, TigoPesa controls a 36 per cent share of mobile money subscriptions, according to Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) figures.

According to the Mastercard Division President for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Raghav Prasad, the company chose Tanzania after realising that the country was working hard to popularise the use of eletronic cash while also ensuring that an increasing number of Tanzanians was able to access financial services.

“Our focus is to help Tanzania become a strong digital economic hub in Africa and through the introduction of relevant technological innovations, we will help displace the use of cash and create a more convenient and secure payment sector. The partnership between Mastercard, Tigo and Selcom is a game changer for the country, and will help shape a new digital age of commerce in Tanzania,” he said.

Masterpass QR, a digital payment solution, is now accepted at various stores and other acceptance locations across the country including Puma fuel stations, KFC and Pizza Hut outlets, Choppies and Shoppers supermarkets, JD Pharmacies, multiple shops at the GSM Mall and many more.

Source: The Citizen

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