Zanzibar started its digital transformation journey a few months ago. All sectors are undergoing the process; this includes payment systems, which play a crucial role in digital inclusion.

MasterCard recently committed to supporting the digital transformation ambitions of the government of Zanzibar, an autonomous administrative region of Tanzania. Last Tuesday, the the US company inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Zanzibar e-Government Agency (eGAZ), in this framework.

Under their partnership, MasterCard will provide technical support and its expertise to Zanzibar, over three years. According to the payment giant, this includes setting up a digital transformation team, collaborating with the ZanMalipo government payment portal to enable digital payments, and launching two million government cards for better access to services and tourism.

“This collaboration confirms our commitment to leveraging innovative technologies to improve service delivery. We believe that by working with MasterCard, a trusted partner, we can significantly accelerate the realization of our digital strategy and provide invaluable benefits to our citizens,” said Said Seif Said, Director General of eGAZ.

The agreement, signed during the launch of Zanzibar’s digital government strategy (2023-2027), aligns perfectly with the island's digital transformation objectives outlined in its master plan and digital economy roadmap. 

The collaboration builds on MasterCard’s global experience in promoting digital transformation and facilitating financial and digital inclusion.  It will, ultimately, foster an environment conducive to a pan-African digital economy, and stimulate innovation, trade, and investment in the United Republic of Tanzania and the region as a whole.

Samira Njoya