# Thunes and Vodacom Tanzania Unite to Power Cross-Border M-Pesa Payments Across China and Uganda

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/thunes-and-vodacom-tanzania-unite-to-power-cross-border-m-pesa-payments-across-china-and-uganda
- Published: 2026-05-05T13:00:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

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_Collaboration revolutionises trade & financial convenience for Tanzanian merchants
and consumers_

SINGAPORE, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — [Thunes](https://www.thunes.com/), the Smart
Superhighway to move money around the world, has joined forces with Vodacom Tanzania,
the country’s leading telco company, to transform cross-border trade and digital
financial inclusion with Vodacom’s new M-Pesa Global Payment solution. Thanks to
the collaboration, Vodacom customers in Tanzania can now seamlessly pay merchants
in Uganda and China directly from their mobile phones.

This milestone solution responds to growing demand from Tanzanian traders who engage
in commerce with Ugandan and Chinese markets but often face challenges with costly,
slow, and insecure payment methods. With this innovation, leveraging the Thunes 
Direct Global Network, Vodacom aims to bridge those gaps, offering secure, real-
time digital payments across borders and reinforcing its leadership in mobile money
innovation in Africa.

The solution supports trade with two key markets for Tanzania. For eight consecutive
years, China has been Tanzania’s largest trading partner, with [bilateral trade hitting $8.8 billion in 2024](https://welcomeafrica.org/en/tanzania-reaffirms-alliance-with-china-on-76th-anniversary-of-the-peoples-republic/).
In the same year, bilateral trade between Tanzania and Uganda reached approximately
[$](https://mofa.go.ug/article/uganda-tanzania-trade-mission-2025-officially-kicks-kampala)
[2.23 billion](https://mofa.go.ug/article/uganda-tanzania-trade-mission-2025-officially-kicks-kampala),
an increase of 64% on the previous year.

**Epimack Mbeteni**, M-Pesa Director at Vodacom Tanzania said: "This is more than
just a payment feature, it is a catalyst for economic empowerment and a gateway 
for small and medium businesses and entrepreneurs in Tanzania to compete and thrive
in regional and global markets. Through Thunes’ expansive and trusted Network we
are enabling seamless, secure, and affordable cross-border payments that empower
people, fuel trade and place M-Pesa at the center of Africa’s digital commerce future."

Through Thunes’ Direct Global Network, customers can now send payments to merchants
in Uganda using MTN MoMo and to Chinese merchants through the Alipay network, all
through the M-Pesa USSD menu or the M-Pesa Super App. The process is secure, user-
friendly, and eliminates the burden of traditional banking barriers for everyday
traders and businesses.

**Dawei Wang**, SVP Network at Thunes, added: "Vodacom Tanzania joining the Thunes
Direct Global Network to digitise cross-border payments is a game changer for local
businesses. By combining Vodacom’s technology with Thunes’ trusted and proprietary
Network, Tanzanian customers can pay partners in China and Uganda in real time. 
This innovation accelerates interoperability along with international trade and 
business growth and supports our vision of connecting the next billion end users
to the global economy."

This initiative stands as a strategic enabler for consumers and micro, small, and
medium enterprises (MSMEs) who need reliable and quick financial tools such as mobile
money. A 2025[ ](https://www.geopoll.com/blog/tanzania-financial-services-and-usage-2025/)
[GeoPoll survey](https://www.geopoll.com/blog/tanzania-financial-services-and-usage-2025/)
on Tanzania Financial Services and Usage found that 94% of the survey’s respondents
use mobile money.

The Thunes and Vodacom Tanzania alliance is set to transform the lives of millions
of consumers by dismantling cross-border barriers. By hyper-connecting Tanzania 
to global powerhouses like China and streamlining intra-African trade, the collaboration
is helping to build an inclusive economy and grow Tanzania’s role as a force in 
the global market.

**About Vodacom Tanzania**

For more information, visit: [https://www.vodacom.co.tz/](https://www.vodacom.co.tz/)

**About Thunes**

For more information, visit: [https://www.thunes.com/](https://www.thunes.com/)

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**Read the original article :** [Thunes and Vodacom Tanzania Unite to Power Cross-Border M-Pesa Payments Across China and Uganda ](http://www.prnasia.com/story/archive/4948387_AE48387_0?rand=184833)