Africa’s Payment Revolution Doesn’t Need Bank Cards — And That’s the Point
Walk into a small shop in rural Tanzania, ask to top up your casino wallet or pay a water bill, and you might not see a card terminal. You might not even see a bank logo. What you will find is something far more interesting: a printed QR code, a basic POS machine, and a vendor who knows exactly how to help you pay — fast.
Across Africa, a payment revolution is underway. But it’s not being driven by traditional banks, credit cards, or Silicon Valley tech. It’s being led by mobile phones, prepaid vouchers, and the local shops that power everyday life. It’s lean, it’s local — and it works.
Read more: https://www.techinafrica.com/africas-payment-revolution-doesnt-need-bank-cards-and-thats-the-point/
Safaricom and PayPal Partner to Link M-PESA with Global Payments Network
Safaricom has partnered with PayPal to integrate M-PESA mobile money services with PayPal’s global payment network, a move set to benefit over 35 million M-PESA customers and two million businesses and micro-traders in Kenya.
The initiative allows users to link their PayPal and M-PESA wallets, enabling seamless transfers between the two platforms. This interoperability will facilitate easier cross-border transactions, supporting both personal remittances and business payments.
Ozow Launches PayShap Request for Instant Mobile Payments
Ozow has announced the official launch of PayShap Request, a new feature in its payment suite. This new service enables instant payments using only a mobile number or account number. The launch is considered a key step in South Africa’s efforts to modernize its payments infrastructure and increase financial inclusion, as it aligns with the South African Reserve Bank’s Payments Ecosystem Modernisation (PEM) vision.
The service works by allowing customers to select PayShap at checkout, choose their bank, and then enter their phone number or account number. They then authenticate the payment within their banking app.
Read more: https://techafricanews.com/2025/07/31/ozow-launches-payshap-request-for-instant-mobile-payments/
Mastercard launches new global tools for B2B payment automation acceleration
Mastercard has announced its plan to accelerate B2B payment automation for customers and businesses globally with new acceptance developments.
Following this announcement, Mastercard focuses on modernising supplier reconciliation and streamlining virtual card payments with several new enablers. This initiative includes the launch widescale global availability of Mastercard Receivables Manager, an automated solution developed in order to make virtual cards more efficient, secure, and cost-effective for businesses to accept.
In addition, to give payment service providers optimised flexibility in how they offer B2B payment developments, Mastercard is also introducing Commercial Direct Payments, an improved straight-through processing solution that fully automates virtual card payments and reconciliation. Together, the expanded offerings are expected to deliver a fast and efficient B2B payment experience for both buyers and suppliers at an opportune time, as the process of embracing the digitisation of commercial payments is increasingly becoming more essential.
