Mastercard has partnered with the Zanzibar e-Government Agency (eGAZ) to support the digital transformation efforts of Zanzibar.
This strategic collaboration aims to revolutionize payment systems across various sectors, including tourism, with the goal of driving economic growth and enhancing the digital landscape of the region.
The partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the launch of Zanzibar’s Digital Government Strategy for 2023-2027, led by President Hussein Ali Mwinyi.
Mastercard will provide technical assistance and expertise over the next three years to support the Zanzibar government’s digital transformation goals.
This includes establishing a dedicated digital transformation team, collaborating with the government’s payment portal ZanMalipo to enable digital payments, and issuing two million government cards to improve access to services and enhance the tourism experience.
According to Shehryar Ali, Country Manager, East Africa, Mastercard, he said that the collaboration will help power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere in Zanzibar.
It is a testament to the profound impact of digitization and builds on Mastercard’s global experience in enabling digital transformation and demonstrating the value of fostering cross-sector collaboration, fuelling economic growth and facilitating financial and digital inclusion.
Mastercard’s solutions, such as the Mastercard Payment Gateway Services (MPGS), will enable merchants to accept various payment methods, including mobile payments, credit cards, and e-wallets. Additionally, consumer benefits will be highlighted on Priceless.com to drive economic development.
Zanzibar’s Revolutionary Government is dedicated to fostering a pan-African digital economy that promotes innovation, trade, and investment in Tanzania and the wider region.
Through this collaboration, Zanzibar aims to enhance service delivery by developing a fast and secure digital infrastructure for citizens, tourists, and the business community.
The island aspires to become a key player in the pan-African trade transformation journey, ultimately benefiting consumers with a more seamless, efficient, and inclusive digital environment.
