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 #44

FINTECH

Tanzania: Tpc to Develop Online Shopping Platform
The Tanzania Post Corporation (TPC) plans to develop an online marketing platform to take advantage of the growing e-commerce business in the country. Flourishing online businesses has prompted TPC to seize the opportunity as it continues to improve its service to become the most efficient online marketing service provider in Tanzania and Africa.

MPs snub Bill seeking M-Pesa, Safaricom split
Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom Kenya to split their telecommunications business from the mobile money transfer and lending units. The Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill targets to address concerns that Safaricom has become too big through its dominant market share in voice, mobile data, and mobile money.
Peter Ndegwa is the CEO at Safaricom
Prasanta D Sarma is the MD & CEO at Airtel Networks Kenya
Sipho Maseka is the CEO at Telkom Group

Tanzania: CRDB, Postal Agency Cash in On Levy Fallout
Leading Tanzanian lender CRDB Bank is leveraging state-run Tanzania Posts Corporation’s nationwide network of 100-plus outlets for expanded agent banking in a move seen as geared to cash in new levy on mobile money transactions.
Abdulmajid M. Nsekela is the CEO at CRDB Bank Plc

Safaricom share price hits new ceiling
Leading telecoms provider Safaricom saw its share price set yet another new high at the close of trading on Monday. This on the back of news that its recently garnered Ethiopia operating license will include mobile financial services, clearing the way for the expansion of its platform M-Pesa into the country.
Peter Ndegwa is the CEO at Safaricom

Kenyan Fintech startup Kwara to Join Mastercard’s Start Path Program
Mastercard announced Kwara as one of the 11 global startups selected to join the award-winning Start Path Program. The program is a springboard to help the best and brightest startups maximize their opportunity for success.
Cynthia Wandia is the Co-founder & CEO at Kwara

Ethiopia clears hurdle for M-Pesa expansion
Ethiopia has cleared the way for Safaricom to introduce its popular M-Pesa in the market of 110 million people after deciding to include the mobile phone-based financial services in the telco’s licence offered in May.
Peter Ndegwa is the CEO at Safaricom

Absa launches WhatsApp banking dubbed ‘Abby’
Absa Bank Kenya has launched a new innovation that allows its customers to access their accounts and transact via WhatsApp. The bank has given this functionality a human personality as a dedicated, always-on banking assistant, named Abby.
Jeremy Awori is the MD/CEO at Absa Kenya

Ghanaian fintech Waya sees strong growth propel it into other African markets
Ghana-based payments startup Waya is seeing month-on-month growth of between 20 per cent in its three existing markets, prompting it to launch expansion activities into three additional African countries.

Nigeria-based mobility fintech, Moove raises $23 million Series A
Nigeria-based auto-financing startup, Moove has announced a $23 million Series A to build a full-service mobility fintech that democratises vehicle ownership across Africa. The round was led by global VC, Speedinvest and New York-based Left Lane Capital.
Ladi Delano is the Co-Founder and CEO at Moove Africa
Jide Odunsi are the founders and CEO’s at Moove Africa
Kenneth Micah is the Regional Manager at Bolt East Africa

Nigeria’s telecoms sector attracts fresh N822.66b
Two major telecoms operators, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa Plc, have attracted a total of $2billion (approximately N822.66billion) funds into their operations. This is even as FDIs into the industry dipped sharply by 78 per cent in the first six months of this year.
Michael Ikpoki is the CEO at MTN Nigeria
Raghunath Mandava is the CEO at Airtel Africa

Somalia sets up national payments system as it rebuilds country
Somalia has set up a national payments system as part of plans to develop the financial industry in one of the world’s most fragile states, following decades of political and economic instability.

Airtel Africa’s Mobile-Money Unit Gets $200 Mln Investment From Qatar
Airtel Africa PLC said Friday that the Qatar Investment Authority will invest $200 million in its Airtel Mobile Commerce subsidiary at a valuation of $2.65 billion. The London-listed, Africa-focused telecommunications company said QIA will hold a minority stake in the subsidiary, which houses several of Airtel Africa’s mobile-money operations, with Airtel Africa continuing to hold the majority stake.
Raghunath Mandava is the CEO at Airtel Africa

AGRTECH

Nigerian agri-tech startup Zowasel raises $100k financing from Guinness, Promasidor
Nigerian agri-tech startup Zowasel has received US$100,000 financing from Guinness Nigeria and Promasidor Nigeria, a leading pan-African consumer packaged food manufacturer, at the UN World Food Programme Zero Hunger Sprint.
Jerry Oche is the Co-founder and CEO at Zowasel

UNCDF Agritech Challenge 2021 open for innovative Agritech solutions
The United Nations Capital Development Fund has partnered with Atal Innovation Mission, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Rabo Foundation to launch the Agritech Challenge 2021. This should address issues faced by smallholder farmers around climate change, productivity, and supply chains. 
Preeti Sinha is the Executive Secretary at UNCDF

Start-up, IBM put data in the henhouse
IBM has announced its backing for a small South African start-up called Omniolytics, to help transform poultry farming through the use of digital sensors linked to the IBM Cloud and its artificial intelligence platform, Watson.The poultry industry was valued at more than R46bn in 2019, and makes up more than 16% of the total value of agricultural production in SA.

New online market to boost small holder farmers in EAC
An online agribusiness market to help farmers in the East Africa Community sell agricultural produce has been unveiled. Agribusiness Confederation of East Africa (ACEA) has launched the online agribusiness market to help sellers in the region find markets for their green produce.

Old Mutual and SwiftVee Agritech launch new digital solution for livestock buyers
OLD MUTUAL Insure and SwiftVee AgriTech have launched a new digital insurance solution called VeeSure to support the needs of the South African livestock buyers and production auction market.
Russel Luck is the CEO at SwiftVEE
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