Vodacom Tanzania strengthens cross-border payments with PayPal

By Parth Prabhudesai

Vodacom Tanzania, one of Tanzania’s leading telecommunications and mobile financial services providers, has partnered with PayPal, a global digital payments platform, to enable seamless fund transfers between PayPal accounts and M-Pesa wallets through the M-Pesa Super App.

The integration allows eligible M-Pesa customers in Tanzania to securely deposit funds into their PayPal wallets and withdraw money from PayPal directly into their M-Pesa accounts, expanding access to international digital commerce and cross-border payments. The partnership forms part of M-Pesa’s broader global payments strategy and comes amid growing demand for easier international payment solutions among Tanzanians engaged in freelancing, online business, software development, content creation and other digital services.

Through the M-Pesa Super App, customers can link their PayPal accounts to their M-Pesa wallets via a guided onboarding process designed to support secure and seamless transactions between the two platforms. The service is expected to simplify how Tanzanians receive payments and manage earnings from international clients and digital marketplaces, particularly within the growing gig economy and remote work sectors.

Tulisindo Mlupilo, Acting M-Pesa Director at Vodacom Tanzania, said: “Digital connectivity is creating more opportunities for Tanzanians to participate in the global economy, whether through freelancing, online business, content creation or cross-border commerce. Through this partnership with PayPal, we are making it easier for our customers to send, receive, deposit and access funds across platforms with greater convenience and confidence.”

Otto Williams, SVP, Regional Head and GM for Middle East and Africa at PayPal, said: “Across the world, we are seeing continued growth in digital commerce and remote work participation globally. By enabling easier transfer of funds between PayPal and M-Pesa, through account linking, this partnership will help create a more seamless and convenient cross-border payment experience for customers in Tanzania.”

The partnership further reinforces M-Pesa’s role in Tanzania’s digital financial services landscape while supporting wider efforts to improve financial inclusion and participation in the global digital economy.