Sasai & Airtel Money expand free remittance services across Africa

By Gloria Methri

Sasai Money Transfer has partnered with Airtel Money to expand its offering of free remittances to more African markets.

The Zero Fees initiative, which was first launched in May 2024 by Sasai Money Transfer in partnership with Econet in Zimbabwe, is now being expanded with Airtel Money in Uganda. It will then be extended to other high-traffic remittance Airtel markets such as Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Kenya and Zambia.

This offering eliminates remittance sending fees for users of the Sasai Money Transfer service in the United Kingdom and South Africa who send money to family and friends in Uganda. The partnership with Airtel Money Uganda ensures that the recipient enjoys similar benefits by cashing out their funds for free from their Airtel Money wallet.

The current reality in the African context is that informal remittances are still prevalent, exceeding the volume of formal remittances flowing through official channels. This high level of informality presents a challenge for African migrants, many of whom end up losing their hard-earned money to unscrupulous intermediaries.

In line with the vision of a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind, Sasai is making the services more accessible and affordable for all Africans.

Managing Director of Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda Limited, Japhet Aritho said, “We have partnered with Sasai Money Transfer on their innovative initiative that aligns with our agenda of ensuring financial inclusivity for all Ugandans. This offer brings even more value to our customers, coinciding with our big consumer promotion, Vroomula Amajja, which offers customers a chance to win daily cash prizes, weekly Boda-Boda prizes and a Toyota Rav4 Hybrid by simply receiving remittances into their Airtel Money wallet.”

Sasai Fintech CEO Darlington Mandivenga said, “The partnership with Airtel Money Uganda offers an important avenue into one of Africa’s largest remittance markets. As Sasai, this is where we want to be, ensuring we reach as many people as possible and ultimately leave no African behind. We are in a competitively unique position where we have been able to utilize our source market assets, operational efficiencies and group synergies while collaborating with like-minded partners such as Airtel Money to deliver innovative offerings.”

Sasai’s Zero Fees initiative marks another first in the remittances industry: a Money Transfer Operator has effectively collaborated with Mobile Money Operators to make money transfer services more affordable.