Mukuru has launched a Visa-branded Companion Card in Botswana, enabling customers to make secure, cashless payments directly from their mobile wallet balance.
The card operates across all local mobile networks without requiring users to hold a traditional bank account, according to the company.
The launch enables cardholders to pay for goods and services at physical merchants without transferring funds between separate accounts, said Thembani Moyo, country manager for Mukuru Botswana.
The payment card is designed to bridge financial access in Botswana, where mobile penetration stands at 166% but an estimated 38% of adults remain unbanked.
Transactions on the card are secured using personal identification numbers for in-person payments and Visa 3D Secure authentication for online transactions, with users able to block lost cards via mobile devices.
Andy Jury, Group CEO of Mukuru, said: “This is about strengthening what the Mukuru Wallet can do for our customers. We’re building a financial services brand around real, everyday needs, helping customers manage, move, and spend their money securely, and on their own terms.”
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