Vodacom Tanzania PLC and Oryx Oil Tanzania Ltd have entered a new partnership to enable their customers to use Vodacom M-Pesa’s ‘Lipa kwa Simu’ platform to pay for fuel.

According to a statement released to the media, the ‘Lipa kwa Simu’ service will be available in all 52 Oryx fuel stations countrywide.

Speaking during announcement held at Mwenge Oryx filling station in Dar es Salaam, Oryx Oil Tanzania Managing Director Chris Swart emphasised on the importance of using digital platforms such as M-Pesa in processing payments and collecting revenues, saying that the move will improve safety, convenience and transparency for both customer and the business.

Swart said: “We continue to extend payment options available at all our fuel stations to increase customer convenience but also safety. I thank Vodacom M-Pesa for collaborating with Oryx Oil on this initiative to ensure mobile money payments are available to all our customers regardless of the operator/network they are using. I am certain this service will make payments easier and benefit us by enhancing efficiency in keeping of transaction records and improving financial security in all our stations across the country.”

Through the ‘Lipa kwa Simu’ service customers can use M-Pesa App QR code, Bank accounts and other mobile money wallets to make the payments. Oryx Fuel stations confirms that customers are eligible for a 5% instant cashback on all payments done via M-Pesa.

Vodacom M-Pesa Director, Nelusigwe Mwangota - Head of M-Pesa reporting & Planning, revealed that the ‘Lipa kwa Simu’ service was seeing a lot of traction countrywide as more merchants and retailers use it to seamlessly collect payments while helping customers to avoid the risks and burdens of carrying cash.

Mwangota said the company will continue to drive digital payments in the Tanzania retail ecosystem by extending this service to more private and public institutions

“Over ten million Tanzanians are already using M-Pesa to process various payments like utility payments, government payments, transport, retail and many more. As a company we drive the ambitious agenda of a cashless society so our focus is to encourage non-cash transactions through enhancing mobile payments.”