Tigo makes sending and receiving money easier

MASEMBE TAMBWE

Tigo Tanzania announced this week that customers from across all networks can now seamlessly send and receive money to any Tigo customer in the country through its secure and convenient Tigo Pesa Service.

This was announced during the launch of a new campaign dubbed, ‘NITIGOPESA ’whose main objective is to ensure customers from all major telecom networks are able to transact their mobile financial services with Tigo Pesa customers and merchants in Tanzania.

Speaking at a press conference during the launch in Dar es Salaam, Tigo’s Head of Financial Services, Ruan Swanepoel said Tigo is committed to create a cashless society where any customer can enjoy flexible payment options and enjoy affordable and convenience services.

“This consumer-centered innovation speaks to financial inclusion as it helps draw more cash into the formal financial system and help improve customers’ lives by simplifying transactions,” he said.

Temperatures are rising after the government imposed a 10 per cent excise duty on all mobile money transfers in the 2016/17 budget. Initially, mobile firms only paid tax on fees charged on sending money, but from 01 July they have to pay tax on charges levied on withdrawals, which currently comprise the largest chunk of income from the services.

Mr Swanepoel said that Tigo has invested over $15m in the last 2 years in upgrading its world-class platform and services to continue providing accessible, reliable, secure and convenient services, whereby customers from all major telecom networks will be able to get real-time, seamless responses from Tigo Pesa Service, thus making their financial transactions easier and faster.

“From now onwards, other financial mobile money networks such as M-Pesa, Airtel Money and EasyPesa will be able to transact to Tigo Pesa through buying and paying from our widest network of Tigo Pesa merchants that are spread all over the country,” he said.

It would be recalled that earlier in 2016, Tigo Pesa service completed a full interoperability with other mobile financial service operators and banks in Tanzania to make its services available to more people.