Every fortnight we compile a list of important news updates and events covering the East African FINTECH, MFGTECH, CLNTECH, and AGRTECH sectors.

For a downloadable copy of Africa’s Issue #36

FINTECH

Airtel Money partners with PBZ Bank to launch online money transactions
The Peoples Bank of Zanzibar (PBZ Bank) has partnered with Airtel Tanzania to launch a partnered service on money transactions aimed at bringing closer services to customers at anytime and anywhere in the country. The service in partnership with Airtel will make PBZ Bank customer to make money transactions in an easy way without physically visiting the bank.
Isack Nchunda is the Director at Airtel Money Tanzania

Ethiopia receives two bids for two telecoms operating licences
Ethiopia’s finance ministry said on Monday it had received two bids, from South Africa’s MTN and a consortium including Kenya’s Safaricom, for new telecoms operating licences. The announcement is the latest step in the Horn of Africa nation’s efforts to liberalise its economy. The country of 110 million people has one of the world’s last closed telecoms markets.
Balcha Reba is the Director General at Ethiopian Communications Authority
Ralph Mupita is the President & CEO at MTN Group
Peter Ndegwa is the CEO at Safaricom PLC

CBK to link budding fintech startups with potential investors
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is seeking to expand digital finance by linking startups and enterprises with investors to accelerate their innovation through the Memorandum of Understanding the CBK has signed with E4Impact Foundation.

Hormuud Telecom Launches Somalia’s First Mobile Money Application
Somalia’s largest telecommunications provider, Hormuud Telecom, has announced the rollout of the country’s first indigenous mobile money application. The fin-tech app, named WAAFI, gives Somalis access to a range of digital services across a singular platform for the first time.

Uganda Fintech secures $3.6million in funding
Ugandan tech startup, Tugende has managed to secure $3.6million in the Series A financing extension round. The new funding campaign follows the $6.3 million raised last year in November led by Toyota’s Tsusho Investment fund. The amount collected in the new funding round brings Tugende’s total financing to $9.9 million in the Series A financing.
Michael Wilkerson is the Co-Founder & CEO at Tugende

Nigerian fintech firm Okra raises $3.5 million to expand data infrastructure
Founded in 2019, Okra’s open finance platform is a digital transformation tool for businesses in Africa and its API enables developers and businesses to build personalized digital services and fintech products for customers.
Fara Ashiru Jituboh and David Peterside are the founders at Okra

Muhuri sues Kenya Ferry over use of M-Pesa
Muhuri has sued Kenya Ferry Services for forcing motorists to pay toll charges using Safaricom’s M-Pesa. The directive, which came to effect in February, has grossly inconvenienced motorists using the channel and other ferry users such as handcart pullers and cyclists.
Sitoyo Lopokoiyit is the CEO at M-Pesa

Visa partners with Hubtel to expand eCommerce in Ghana
Ghana’s indigenous eCommerce & SMS messaging company, Hubtel.com has entered into a partnership with Visa, to expand access to seamless payments on its eCommerce platform. This partnership with Visa provides consumers with access to more merchant services on Hubtel’s eCommerce platforms.
Adoma Peprah is the Country Manager at Visa Ghana

Nedbank and Mastercard team on WhatsApp payments for small businesses
South Africa’s Nedbank has teamed up with Mastercard and local fintech player Ukheshe to let customers pay small businesses via WhatsApp. Once registered, small and microbusinesses can use the service, called Money Message, to send a WhatsApp request-to-pay message to customers with a valid South African identity document and bank account.
Mike Brown is the CEO at Nedbank
Clayton Hayward is the CEO at Ukheshe Technologies
Mark Elliott is the President at Mastercard South Africa

Eli Hini appointed as first CEO of MobileMoney Limited
MobileMoney Limited (MML), a wholly owned subsidiary of Scancom PLC announces the appointment of   Mr. Eli Hini as its first Chief Executive Officer. The appointment was made by the MML Board early this monthindicating Eli’s responsibility to drive strategy, business development, innovation and relevant operations for MTN’s Mobile Money business.

AGRTECH

Founders Factory partners with Small Foundation to invest in 18 Agritech startups.
Johannesburg-based investment company Founders Factory Africa (FFA) today announced a partnership with Small Foundation that will see it select 18 agritech startups for an acceleration and incubation program.
Alina Truhina is the Co-founder & CSO at Founders Factory Africa (FFA)
Roo Rodgers is the Co-founder and CEO at Founders Factory Africa (FFA)

Nigerian agri-tech startups invited to apply for $3m COVID-19 Food Security Challenge
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched the USAID/Nigeria COVID-19 Food Security Challenge, which will offer US$3 million in funding and technical assistance to Nigerian companies mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on Nigeria’s agri-food systems.

Agrictech Coy Bags Int’l Quality Award For Improving Agriculture
The award, organised by World Quality Alliance was a testament to years of hard work by Farm4Me, which a few weeks ago clinched another valuable award, emerging as West Africa’s Best World-Class Digital Agricultural Investment Platform Brand, making it two international awards in months.
Adama J Adama is the Founder and CEO at Farm4Me