GITEX highlighted Dubai’s ambition to be a global technology hub. But the city needs a deeper Africa-strategy
Dubai’s GITEX entered its 42nd year as a globally renowned tech conference and tradeshow. Earlier this year the first overseas version debuted in Morocco in North Africa, and an even bigger return is planned for May 2024. But to have a stake in Africa’s technology ecosystem and a potential $180 billion digital economy) the UAE will need to do more than tradeshows. For many years, it was called GITEX Technology Week or simply GITEX Dubai. After 42 years, the iconic technology tradeshow, like the country which hosts it, is no longer content with being a regional technology powerhouse. While Kaoun International (Arabic for “Universe”), a newly formed event management company tests new markets, a deeper engagement strategy seems to be missing, especially for growing technology markets in emerging economies. After co-hosting the first overseas GITEX in Marrakech earlier this year, organisers of the 42-year-old GITEX tradeshow announced the launch of preparations for a European version at this year’s edition of GITEX in Dubai. The first GITEX Berlin is being organised in partnership with Messe Berlin, a German events management company and is scheduled for May 2025. To put the spotlight on technology innovation, the organisers of GITEX have expanded its selection of co-located events. At this year’s startup and investor-focused program, Expand NorthStar (formerly called Northstar Dubai) several African startups found space for themselves. Nigeria’s social commerce startup, Gifty, was the only African finalist at Supernova, the Expand Northstar pitch competition. It also picked up the Africa Fast category award plus an $8,000 cash prize. But beyond events and pitch competitions, it is not clear how the UAE intends to turn these annual sessions into value for its ambitions. For North Africa and the rest of the continent, GITEX Africa which debuted in Marrakech last May is the primary event through which the UAE’s government hopes to endear itself to technology players in Africa (and its Moroccan government partners). Organised in partnership with Morocco’s Digital Development Agency (ADD), GITEX Africa was the first version of the tradeshow organised outside Dubai. Kaoun International is also planning a yet-to-be-announced series of smaller events in key cities throughout Africa, TechCabal learned. At the same time, roadshows from African investors hoping to raise capital from the region’s wealthy are having variable success. An untapped opportunity When the first Gulf Information Technology Exhibition was held in 1981, Dubai was not the global travel destination it has since become. But it was already becoming an important sales hub to reach the Middle Eastern region. Recently, as the conversation around renewables gained momentum and public purses swelled with windfall profits on fossil fuel sales, the United Arab Emirates alongside its Gulf neighbours, Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced similar economic diversification agendas. Public agency videos preach the virtues of each country’s vision for a technology-based economy. And public fund managers like Mubadala Investment Company, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), have become important sources of capital for global investment firms. Saudi Arabia’s PIF investment in Softbank’s Vision Fund is perhaps one of the more notable examples. Perhaps nothing captures this fascination with technology more than Neom, the 26,500km2 high-tech city championed by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. The state-owned investors of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE collectively control more than $4 trillion in assets according to tracker, GlobalSWF. All three countries have ambitions to become the region’s technology powerhouse as well as be recognised as significant players on the global scene. Mubadala, QIA, and PIF have made large investments into Western technology firms either directly or as LPs in Western VC funds. Investments made in African companies on the other hand typically focus on traditional industries or as part of government aid. Due to their historic links, much of those investments are concentrated in North Africa. By expanding its leading technology tradeshow to Africa through a partnership with one of its long-time allies (Morocco), the UAE is demonstrating the contours of a still cautious African strategy. Outside of technology, the UAE is more aggressive. The mostly state-owned port operator and shipping company, DP World for example has signed port management deals with several African countries. GITEX was originally a technology trade show that focused on consumer gadgets and hardware. While it still retains some of this hardware focus, it has evolved to incorporate the software solution market. This tracks with much of how the technology ecosystem evolved following the boom years of Software-as-a-Service businesses. More crucially though, GITEX retains much of the sales discovery event design that helped solidify the UAE’s position as a leading technology sales hub. An overly cautious and mostly North African corridor to Africa’s technology opportunity based on packed schedules at a tradeshow falls short of what younger technology ecosystems need. Events are events and the jury is still out on how much of an influence a technology tradeshow has on helping to create thriving technology ecosystems. Dubai has become a leading financial and business facilitation centre for Africa’s wealthy. It is also attracting technology talent from Africa. Some African technology companies primarily serving North African countries like Egypt or West African markets like Nigeria have their headquarters in the city. During the recently concluded GITEX Global, Nigeria’s Paystack and the UAE-Africa Networking Group held separate events for the African technology entrepreneurs in the city for GITEX. Despite the enthusiasm on the part of African entrepreneurs, what was conspicuously missing was the presence of local players. A windfall from oil revenues has made Gulf countries important financiers globally, drawing attention from Silicon Valley fund managers. In today’s funding crunch where local African VCs are struggling to find capital partners, the opportunity for countries with big tech hub ambitions like the UAE to play a bigger role in Africa’s technology ecosystem could not be greater.
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EXCLUSIVE: IROKOtv doubles down on dollar-paying users as it denies reports of a shutdown
After weeks of consumers pondering the abrupt disappearance of streaming platform, IROKOtv, Jason Njoku explains that the company is on the verge of a platform migration and denies a reported shutdown. Twelve-year-old African streaming platform, IROKOtv has denied shutting down operations after its website went offline and its mobile app disappeared from the Apple and Android app stores. That disappearance, alongside muted communication across its social media handles, triggered speculation that the service was on the verge of collapse. “I am trying to find a way to make sure that they do not charge me again to renew my subscription,” said Kiki, a South African user who was neither able to operate her app nor redownload it from the Android Play Store. Other subscribers who use iPhones have not been able to redownload them from the Apple App Store for as long as five months now. Many users trace the malfunction back to as far back as June, the last time the company published a new movie on the platform. ”They had promised us that they would publish new movies every week. But since June, they have been publishing old movies,” Dinma, another user, told TechCabal. However, in a conversation with TechCabal, Jason Njoku, IROKOtv’s CEO, denied the shutdown claims and explained that the company’s services went offline due to an ongoing migration. “We’ve been migrating platforms for the last few weeks, so the site has been in maintenance mode,” he said. After 10 years running on a software stack designed for an African audience with specific broadband configuration needs, IROKOtv is shifting its focus, Njoku explained. “We had to hard pivot away from Africa, which rendered our existing product and platform obsolete. It was harder than expected to untangle everything after 10+ years of building for Nigeria first,” he said. The migration is near completion, he claims, explaining that the engineering pivot was necessary to ensure IROKOtv becomes accessible on smart TVs, a fast-growing segment among streaming companies. He expects the streaming platform will become accessible as quickly as this week, and the company expects to go live on smart TVs, including Roku, LG, and Samsung, by the end of the year. IROKOtv represents one of the earliest groups of African tech startups from the early 2010s, as entrepreneurs and investors made their first bets on the continent’s digital services, including streaming services and e-commerce. While several businesses from this period have struggled, IROKOtv, backed by Tiger Global, has managed to survive while several of its streaming competitors collapsed. Image source: Iroko TV Njoku has repeatedly explained over the last few years that IROKOtv has had to make a painful pivot from its African roots to remain in business. Low income and affordability of broadband connectivity continue to hamper the widespread adoption of streaming services on the continent. And in 2019, it sold off its content library and film production arm to Canal+ as the French media doubled down on the African continent. “[Today], 89% of our revenues for the first nine months of 2023 were outside of Nigeria,” Njoku told TechCabal. “With the new Naira devaluations that ultimately makes sense.” While this is not the first time NJoku’s IROKOtv has talked about the importance of focusing on the African diaspora, its impending migration represents a big bet on its new target market.
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Pay for SGR online booking via MPesa 2023
The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) provides a swift and efficient means of transportation. Alongside the convenience of SGR, the railway service offers multiple payment options to cater to diverse traveller preferences. Among these, the most prominent and widely used method is the mobile money service, M-Pesa. Here we’ll guide you through the steps on how to pay for your SGR online booking via MPesa, ensuring a hassle-free experience. 1. Booking your SGR ticket Before delving into the payment process, you should have already booked your SGR ticket. Read the easy steps on how to book your SGR ticket here. Once your booking is complete, you will receive a booking reference number. 2. SGR online booking payment via M-Pesa After booking your ticket, you’ll proceed to the payment step. Here, you’ll have the option to choose your preferred payment method. Select M-Pesa to pay using your mobile wallet. 3. Entering your M-Pesa mobile number Once you’ve selected M-Pesa, you’ll be prompted to enter your M-Pesa mobile number. Make sure to enter the correct number associated with your M-Pesa account to avoid any payment discrepancies. 4. Confirming your payment After entering your mobile number, click “proceed to payment.” This action initiates a request to your M-Pesa account, and you’ll receive a prompt to confirm the payment on your phone. Ensure that all the payment details are correct before confirming. 5. Completing the payment process of SGR online booking via MPesa Once you confirm the payment, M-Pesa will deduct the ticket cost from your mobile wallet. You’ll receive a payment confirmation message from M-Pesa, which serves as your receipt. This message is essential, so make sure to keep it for your records. The confirmation message includes the details of the transaction, such as the amount paid, the recipient, and the transaction code. 6. Boarding the SGR With your payment confirmation in hand, you’re all set to board the SGR at your scheduled departure time. Be sure to arrive at the station a little earlier to complete the check-in process. Final thoughts on SGR online booking via MPesa Paying for your SGR online booking via MPesa is not only convenient but also secure. It eliminates the need to carry physical cash or visit a physical booking office, making your travel experience with SGR even more seamless. Remember, the payment confirmation message is your proof of purchase, so don’t forget to save it.
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Sending money between Equity Bank & MPESA 2023
Equity Bank and M-PESA, two prominent financial services in Kenya both ensure that you can access and manage your funds with a few simple steps. In this article, we will walk you through how to make an Equity Bank to MPESA transaction and vice versa. How to Make an Equity Bank to MPESA Transaction To initiate a bank-to-M-PESA transaction, you can use a USSD (short) code. Here’s a step-by-step guide: 1. Register for mobile banking or Internet banking Before you can use the USSD code, you need to register for mobile banking or Internet banking through your branch. Once you’re registered, you’ll receive the unique short code, which will be essential for this process. For Equity Bank it’s usually *247#. 2. Dial the USSD number Dial the provided USSD number on your mobile phone. 3. Follow the instructions The USSD menu may vary from bank to bank, so it’s essential to follow the specific instructions given. Generally, you will be prompted to select the option for transferring money to M-PESA. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter the required details, such as the recipient’s M-PESA number and the amount you wish to transfer. 4. Confirmation After you’ve completed the steps, you will receive a confirmation message, verifying the successful transfer of funds from your bank account to your M-PESA wallet. This confirmation ensures that your money is securely moved, and you can now use it as needed. How to make an MPESA to Equity bank transaction Transferring money from your M-PESA wallet to your bank account is equally easy. Here’s how to do it: 1. Go to the M-PESA menu On your mobile phone, access the M-PESA menu. 2. Choose Lipa na M-PESA From the menu options, select “Lipa na M-PESA.” 3. Enter the bank’s business number To proceed, you’ll need to enter the bank’s business number. It’s crucial to consult with your bank or check their website for the accurate business number. 4. Enter your bank account number After entering the business number, you’ll be prompted to input your bank account number. Double-check this number to ensure accuracy. 5. Specify the amount sending money between Equity Bank & MPESA 2023 Enter the amount you want to transfer from your M-PESA wallet to your bank account. 6. Enter M-PESA PIN To complete the transaction, you will need to enter your M-PESA PIN, ensuring the security of your funds. You should receive an SMS once the transaction is successfully processed. Final thoughts on sending money between Equity Bank & MPESA 2023 Whether you need to move money from your Equity bank account to your MPESA wallet or vice versa, the process is simple and secure, enhancing your financial flexibility and convenience.
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Next Wave: Rewriting the venture capital “theory-of-everything”
Cet article est aussi disponible en français <!– In partnership with –> <!–TopBanner Join us for TechCabal Battlefield, Moonshot’s startup competition where you can showcase your startup idea to a global audience and an esteemed panel of judges and stand a chance to win up to 2.5 million naira in funding for your business! Click to register for TC Battlefield First published 22 October 2023 In the last 10 years, venture capital has become a global industry, but the latest crisis will test how much the underlying principles of VC investing apply outside of Silicon Valley. The tragedy of the spiralling identity crisis in the venture capital asset management class is that it is unfolding at the precise moment when Africa and other emerging market countries are building local venture markets. In addition to fighting for funding from a limited pool of Limited Partners (LPs), nascent venture capital markets in emerging economies also need to make the case for more LPs to join the asset class. And they have to process what the ongoing correction in the asset class globally might mean for them. Tough times! Someone suggested that AI will disrupt venture capital investing. I don’t know if it was a joke or not but given how much VCs are embracing AI, I’ll wager they fear that this possibility is all too real. So why not proactively become an AI bestie? Welcome to this week’s Next Wave and the second installation of our series on the identity crises facing venture capital as an industry globally. If you missed the first one, start here. Article continues after this ad The National Science Week (NSW) is a hallmark event in Uganda’s calendar, celebrated every year to honor Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). The event will feature a dedicated Investor Summit, bringing together some of the world’s leading pan African Venture Capitalists, Investors, and Startups.. Find out how you can participate <!–Chart section 1 A sample of African startups that have gone from raise to bust. | Infographic by Victoria Olaonipekun, TC Insights “Rip up the playbook” Silicon Valley and Europe are already looking back at the last years of venture capital’s excesses and openly discussing the need to reexamine. This week, John Thornhill, founder of Sifted, a Financial Times-backed technology publication focused on European startups, called for the VC industry to “rip up the playbook and start again”. In the last three months, I have probably read close to a dozen or more tweets, articles, comments on articles and LinkedIn posts calling for a rethink of what venture capital means. What Silicon Valley (used broadly to mean all Western VC firms) isn’t saying is what starting the venture capital industry over again would look like. Other than nauseating subtle and/or open personal jabs on social media, I don’t see much of a conversation about how the global realignment of VC principles affects an industry that has yet to find solid local funding footing. Here’s what the global playbook looked like. Think of the world of investing as a game where multiple players compete to achieve a set of two objectives. The first objective is to acquire as much capital as possible or feasible from the people who have this capital but cannot be bothered to oversee it every single day. The second objective is to show that they can return even more money than they first acquired to their initial funders after taking fees for standing guard over idle money. To be able to show a return, the players have to make choices about what businesses can generate the needed returns. They can make these choices on a case-by-case basis in public or private markets, by buying or selling industry at a wholesale level (indexing), or by using complex financial maths to try to extract some form of profit (derivative trading, etc.). This is an oversimplification, but it is more or less the game everyone in the investment and financial world is playing under different names. This game used to be super exclusive because to play, you needed to know and be trusted by the people who had money sitting idle. Players also needed to be skilled enough to do the hard work of purely using money to make money. But they could become rich and earn a lot of money—and they did. When something pays off, especially financially it tends to attract more attention. As the game became a lot more popular it attracted newer players who stepped in to fill the gaps in how businesses are funded. Instead of only providing loans, buying shares in mature businesses or borrowing to buy companies and then trying to sell the companies for profit. These newer players were specialists who would do what no one else in the game would dare. Unlike their fellow players, they would absorb plenty of carefully (in theory) curated losses or middling gains, in the hopes that 2 of 10 bets would at least triple the value of the entire fund within 10 years. If they succeeded they could outperform the traditional players, and create bigger and better (in theory) businesses. Success also means being able to repeat the cycle after collecting more capital from rich people/organisations with idle cash who do not mind a 2/10 odds of more than doubling their money without doing any of the hard work over an 8 to 10-year period. These new players embraced risks of a particular kind (typically new technologies), called themselves venture capitalists and recited whale hunting folklore as the origin story of their tribe. Not unexpectedly the other older players (hedge fund traders, REITs, the old guard Wall Street and lords of high finance across the world) did not appreciate their guts, or the competition for LP capital. For years (after an initial collapse in the late 1990s) the new players seemingly kept winning short-term bets, until most recently after global hikes in interest rate hikes left many venture bets in short-lived pandemic-era trends naked on
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👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily – It’s not just Twitter anymore
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Happy salary week WhatsApp is the gift that keeps giving. The Meta-owned platform is reportedly testing self-destructing voice notes—voice notes that vanish once they are listened to. It’s the audio option for View Once pictures and disappearing messages. The feature doesn’t look like it’s rolling out soon, but WhatsApp is beta testing it across Android and iPhone users. WhatsApp, everyone, bringing new meaning to “You go explain tire (no evidence)”. In today’s edition Majorel to lay off 200 employees SA gets landmark social media defamation case Vodacom agrees to pay R1 million fine Sanari Capital raises $65 million The World Wide Web3 Opportunities Layoffs Majorel to lay off 200 employees Image source: Majorel Content moderation firm Majorel is laying off 16% of its Kenyan workforce. In an email shared with TechCabal last week, the company confirmed that it had notified 200 of its 1,200 employees of the company’s decision. Per Majorel, the layoffs are due to restrictions from a court order placed on the company in March 2023. The company didn’t officially confirm the specifics of the restrictions, but sources familiar with the case informed TechCabal that the court order is connected to Majorel’s contract with Meta. ICYMI: Majorel is a casualty in a court case Kenyan content moderators have levied against Meta and its former content moderation partner Sama. Earlier this year, Sama terminated its contract with Meta and laid off 260 content moderators. Subsequently, 43 of the content moderators sued Meta and Sama for their dismissal. Concurrently, Meta tried to engage Majorel as its new content moderation partner but the deal was stopped by a court order after ex-employees from Sama filed discrimination suits against both Meta and Majorel—Meta had reportedly asked Majorel not to hire any content moderators who had worked with Sama. Meta’s prejudice against Sama’s content moderators stems from a string of complaints made by these moderators regarding the subpar working conditions they endured at Sama. Now, the stalled contract is forcing Majorel to retire content moderators. The company is also asking some of its remaining workforce to relocate from its Nairobi office to Mombasa—a deal some aren’t taking due to an inadequate KES20,000 ($134) relocation fee. Zoom out: So far, it doesn’t look like the content moderators’ case is making any headway in court as Meta continues to deny that Kenyan courts have the authority to hear its case. It isn’t the first time global companies have doubted the jurisdiction of African courts over their businesses—despite them running their businesses across these African countries. Access payments with Moniepoint Moniepoint has made it simple for your business to access payments while providing access to credit and other business tools. Open an account today here. Social Media SA gets landmark social media defamation case Image Source: YungNollywood It’s not just Twitter anymore, it’s now real life (but also, not Twitter, now X). This rings true for South African transport activist Zwelakhe Joseph Msabe who, last week, was convicted of defamation by a South African high court. Msabe had been at loggerheads with a private transport company, Itumele Bus Lines, which has been in business since 1975. From May 2022, the activist made several posts criticising the company. In December 2022, the company applied to the court for a prohibitive order against Msabe, but the activist—who, at the time, said court orders couldn’t silence him—continued to make the posts up until February 2023. The company then filed for a final interdict and sought damages against Msabe. Worthy causes, wrongful actions: According to Msabe, his digital barrage against Itumele was in defence of residents and commuters whose rights he believed were being violated by the company. The activist made over 55 posts claiming that the bus company made unlawful increases in tariff, and was complicit in the “murder” of commuters after one of its buses, in November 2022, was in an accident that claimed lives. Msabe claimed the accident was a result of the bus having worn tyres. Over the course of the case, the bus company rebutted Msabe’s claims, proving to Judge André Berry that the bus in question was roadworthy and that pictures of the worn tyres shown by Msabe were false. The company also showed that increases in tariffs were determined by a passenger focus forum—a forum Msabe apparently did not know about nor was a part of—and approved by the province. With a guilty verdict, Msabe was ordered to delete all offending posts and pay fines. Per the judge, “Believing that one pursues a worthy cause in the public interest, does not justify publishing false statements about another party…the publication of defamatory statements are prima facie [at first sight] wrongful.” The big picture: This case holds significant importance as it paves the way for addressing defamation and libel on social media. Only a handful of cases have been reported regarding defamation on social media in South Africa, including the 2012 Dutch Reformed Church v Rayan Sooknunan case, and the 2013 Isparta v Richter case. Itumele v Msabe, however, appears to be the first case involving the defamation of a company by an individual. Telecoms Vodacom agrees to pay R1 million fine GIF Source: Zikoko Memes Vodacom is atoning for its wrongs. Last Friday, the company agreed to pay a R1 million ($52,666) fine levied by South Africa’s National Consumer Tribunal. What it did wrong: Vodacom violated the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) by imposing substantial penalties on customers who wished to cancel their fixed-term contracts. These penalties amounted to 75% of the remaining contract balance, effectively preventing customers from exercising their right to terminate their contracts early. The Consumer Protection Act in South Africa allows subscribers to cancel such contracts before their designated end dates, provided they give a 20-day notice to the network operator and are subject to a “reasonable” cancellation fee. Following customer complaints, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) swiftly determined that Vodacom’s actions were deemed “unethical” as they
Read MoreMobile money users in Tanzania are going back to cash payments to avoid high transaction charges
Governments across sub-Saharan Africa are implementing stiff and high taxes for mobile money services. In Tanzania and even Kenya, these taxes are reversing the gains made in the past in financial services. Tanzanians are using mobile services less often than two years ago when the government introduced new taxes on mobile money transactions. In July 2021, Tanzania introduced a levy ranging from TZS10 ($0.004) to TZS10,000 ($4) on mobile money transactions to fund development projects. This levy was in addition to an already existing 18% value-added tax and a 10% excise duty on mobile money transfer and withdrawal fees. After pushback from the public, the government reduced the levy by 30% in September 2021, and a further 43% reduction, ranging from TZS10 to TZS4,000 (US$1.6), was implemented in July 2022. Despite these reductions, mobile money revenues dropped from TZS 736 billion ($295.1 million) to 6.154 billion or $2.5 million (a 1628% decrease) between June and August, stabilising around TZS 6.555 billion ($2.6 million) in September 2021. This price sensitivity in mobile money usage patterns was discussed during the staging of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 event, which concluded this week in Kigali, Rwanda. Mobile money is not affordable in Tanzania As of 2023, 72% of Tanzanians use mobile money services, up from 60% in 2017, while 22% of the population uses commercial banks. Amidst this, the Tanzanian government recognised mobile money as a driver of financial inclusion, contributing to economic growth and social development, especially among women and rural populations. However, the number of person-to-person (P2P) and cash-out transactions dropped by 38% and 25%, respectively, from June to September 2021. The tax’s impact is estimated to be equivalent to a 30% reduction in P2P and 60% in cash-out transactions in March 2023 if it had not been introduced. Lower-value P2P transactions have, to a small extent, recovered to levels above those before the tax, while mid and higher-value transactions are still 31% and 58% lower, respectively. This indicates users’ appreciation for lower transaction costs. Per the GSMA report, “The reduction in affordability of MM therefore threatens to reverse the commendable financial inclusion gains as Tanzanians revert to cash, particularly amongst the vulnerable and the poorest segments of the population.” These issues are, however, not limited to Tanzania. Kenya’s tax authority, KRA, has raised concerns over a rising trend among business owners who have discontinued their mobile merchant payment accounts to cash transactions following increased compliance checks by the tax authority. KRA observed that businesses, previously using Lipa Na M-PESA Buy Goods Till numbers for payments, are now requesting cash payments. This shift comes after KRA deployed revenue service assistants to boost tax compliance efforts, which also included facilitating online business registrations. Mobile money services serve millions of Africans, and over the last ten years, mobile money in Sub-Saharan Africa grew, with 548 million registered accounts and 160 million active users in 2020, an 18% annual increase. These services facilitated 27.4 billion transactions with a total value of $490 billion. Unlike cash transactions, which are often hard to trace or register, mobile money improves transaction transparency. It offers a convenient method for tax payment and collection, improving collection efficiency and government revenue. “Cash transactions are often unregistered which allows for the development of a shadow economy and the evasion of tax payments,” GSMA said in a report.
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Latest way to buy Airtel airtime on MPesa 2023
The convenience of topping up your mobile phone’s airtime is essential. M-Pesa, a mobile money service in Kenya, offers a hassle-free way to purchase Airtel airtime. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to buy Airtel airtime using MPesa. You may also want to learn how to use M-Pesa to get Telkom airtime here. 1. Go to the M-Pesa menu Begin by going to the M-Pesa menu. Most mobile phones allow you to do this directly through the home screen or by dialling a specific code, such as *150# for Safaricom users. 2. Select ‘Pay Bill’ Once you’re in the M-Pesa menu, navigate to the “Pay Bill” option. This is the gateway to make payments to various businesses and service providers, including Airtel. 3. Enter Business No. 220220 When prompted to enter the Business Number, type in “220220.” This number identifies Airtel as the recipient of your payment. It’s essential to ensure accuracy at this stage. 4. Enter account No. (AIRTXXXXXX) In the “Account Number” field, you will enter “AIRTXXXXXX.” However, replace the XXXXXX with your Airtel mobile number. This step is crucial to ensure that the airtime is credited to your specific Airtel account. 5. Specify the amount Now, input the amount of airtime you wish to purchase. Be sure to double-check the amount to avoid any errors. Your chosen amount will be deducted from your M-Pesa account. 6. Enter your MPesa PIN to buy Airtel airtime To complete the transaction securely, you’ll need to enter your M-Pesa PIN. This is your secret personal identification number that safeguards your M-Pesa account. It ensures that only you can authorize transactions. 7. Send the payment to buy Airtel airtime on MPesa Once you’ve entered your M-Pesa PIN, review the details of your transaction to ensure accuracy. If everything looks correct, press the “Send” or “Confirm” button to finalize the purchase. Within a few moments, you’ll receive a confirmation message from both M-Pesa and Airtel, indicating that your airtime purchase was successful. Final thoughts on how to buy Airtel airtime on MPesa Buying Airtel airtime using M-Pesa is not only quick and smooth but also secure. It eliminates the need to visit a physical store or get scratch cards, making it a convenient option for Airtel subscribers in Kenya. So, the next time you need to top up your Airtel airtime, follow these seven easy steps and enjoy uninterrupted communication at your fingertips.
Read MoreinDrive drivers in Botswana face misconduct allegations
Drivers who use inDrive are facing a flurry of accusations of misconduct in Botswana. The company says it is investigating the cases. Drivers who use inDrive’s ride-hailing platform are facing misconduct allegations by passengers in Botswana. The allegations range from belligerent and uncouth behaviour to sexual harassment. inDrive told TechCabal that it is investigating some of the incidents and has blocked some drivers who were subjects of complaints. TechCabal spoke to four passengers who had these experiences first-hand. inDrive in talks with regulators as Botswana taxi association calls for its ban 27-year-old *Katso, who asked for anonymity for privacy reasons, told TechCabal that the first of her three bad experiences with inDrive started when she requested a ride costing P30, which the driver accepted. At her destination, Katso said the driver insisted that she pay P50 for the ride. “I told him that I would not do that because he agreed to the amount on the app. If he felt that was not sufficient, he could have simply not accepted the ride.” Katso said the driver acted aggressively but eventually drove left. According to Katso, in the other two incidents, the drivers were pleading with her to pay more, instead of forcing her. “They tell you that a lot of things are expensive in the country and they have no choice but to accept rides even if they feel the prices are too low. I don’t know if they say that to mean or just so that you won’t give them a bad rating on the app,” added Katso. inDrive’s unique proposition is that it allows drivers and passengers to negotiate and agree on a fee instead of letting an algorithm decide. However, reports from passengers suggest that drivers often agree with them on a price and then ask them to pay more at their destination. According to another complaint heard by TechCabal but could not be corroborated, one incident involved a driver who physically assaulted a female passenger because she would not pay the amount agreed on the app. In yet another incident, 26-year-old Tapiwa said she requested an inDrive on a weekend night but was shocked when the car that showed up did not match the one on the app. It also had a male passenger. “The driver told me that the male passenger was for his safety as drivers sometimes get robbed by passengers. I told him that i would not get into a cab late at night with two men and he proceeded to be rude and told me to get another cab, which I did,” Tapiwa told TechCabal. More incidents On a thread on the social media platform X, one user shared a voice recording of an irate driver upset that a passenger cancelled their ride. Another user shared that she has had a driver touching himself in a sexually suggestive manner during a ride while another shared that she was picked by a driver who looked debilitated, possibly off narcotics. Other cases shared by users include unroadworthy vehicles, drunk drivers and drivers who call passengers the next day using the numbers they provided on the app. Why inDrive has become popular among riders and drivers in Gaborone According to some of the passengers, some of the incidents happen with even high-rated drivers, making it difficult for them to be able to avoid such cases. inDrive responds TechCabal put the wide range of accusations to inDrive, to which the company responded that it was aware of some of the incidents and that it was conducting investigations to ascertain their accuracy and decide on the next steps. “In response to recent concerns, inDrive wants to assure the public that we are actively addressing the reported incidents,” the company said in an emailed response to techCabal.” We are aware of several such complaints and have promptly blocked the accounts of those drivers in question until further investigation.” The company also encouraged passengers to report all cases of drivers’ so it can take the necessary steps to prevent further issues. However, for Tapiwa, the frequency of the incidents has made her stop using the service altogether unless she absolutely has to. “I don’t think I’m going to use [inDrive] anytime soon. Maybe if I had an emergency or something, but probably not. I would rather use a cab recommended by someone I know,” she added. Despite having blown up in popularity in the country over the last few months, inDrive has also faced a fair amount of issues in its operations in Botswana, where it is the only ride-hailing company available. Last month, the country’s kombi and taxi association asked the transport regulator to ban the service, citing concerns that it was operating without the requisite licensing. *Name has been changed for anonymity.
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Navigating data protection in Africa’s digital landscape
Image source: Aratek Africa’s financial landscape is evolving with the advent of data and digitisation. The proliferation of smartphones and internet connectivity has led to a digital revolution across diverse sectors. For people and businesses, the convergence of finance and technology has deepened financial inclusion on the continent. This rise in financial transaction volume underscores the need for digital identification to help businesses conduct know-your-customer (KYC) checks and safeguard against fraud. Additionally, fraudsters often attempt to use counterfeit or stolen national IDs to gain unauthorized access to regulated financial services. This prompted the widespread adoption of biometrics for robust identity verification as relying solely on document collection for a comprehensive KYC process is no longer sufficient. Consolidation of national identity databases and identification cards has taken the forefront for governments across the continent as government services become digitised. According to the Smile Identity H1 KYC report, there has been a noteworthy enhancement in the uptime of national ID databases across Africa this year, compared to the latter half of 2022. Digital identity has become essential for accessing crucial government services like social welfare programs and tax payments, and they are fundamental prerequisites for obtaining functional IDs such as passports or driver’s licenses. The significant thing about digital ID Verification in Nigeria is that you can now verify anyone’s identity across the country,” said Esigie Aguele, co-founder and CEO VerifyMe Nigeria at the 8th edition of the Inside Identity Series by QoreID, in partnership with TechCabal, on Friday, September 15. Despite this considerable improvement, it is important to acknowledge that safeguarding individual sovereignty over data and personal identities has become non-negotiable as we for digital transformation and financial inclusion. The narratives of privacy breaches and data misuse underscore the need for stringent regulations, ethical practices, and informed consent mechanisms that prioritise the rights and privacy of every individual. Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa have enacted data protection laws influenced by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to protect user data, ensure transparency, and hold businesses accountable for data handling practices. There has also been the consolidation of existing laws by several other countries in Africa to strengthen their data protection legal and regulatory framework. However, Africa’s fragmented regulatory landscape remains a problem that requires a harmonised approach that respects the sovereignty of each nation while promoting regional collaboration. Striking this balance requires active participation and dialogue among stakeholders: governments, financial institutions, technology providers, and, most importantly, the people whose lives will be impacted by these advancements. According to Saruni Maina, associate VP of Stablecoins segment at Flutterwave, “When it comes to regulations regarding compliance and data sharing, Africa needs to operate like a country to integrate data protection requirements or laws that are region-wide.” Striking a harmonious balance involves crafting policies that acknowledge the unique identities and circumstances within Africa while fostering cross-border collaboration to enhance financial inclusivity. Another critical aspect of this dialogue involves fostering digital literacy and educating individuals about the value and potential risks associated with sharing their data. Informed citizens are empowered citizens, capable of making conscious decisions about their data and its usage. Additionally, transparency in data practices and easy-to-understand consent mechanisms are essential to build trust between all stakeholders. Transparency plays a pivotal role in building trust and encouraging active participation from the public. People need to understand the advantages of sharing their data and engaging in robust ID verification processes. Ensuring comprehension, along with easy-to-understand consent procedures, empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their data sharing and identity verification. Data protection expert Ilamosi Ekenimoh, believes: “There needs to be more transparency by companies and regulators. People need to know what you’re using their data for, to trust you with their information.”The importance of a secure and reliable digital identity system cannot be overstated in an increasingly digitised world. However, there is also an equal need to balance these innovations with safeguarding data and privacy. Esigie recommends that the government needs to have non-technological discussions to provide structure for innovators to build technology on. ******* This article is part of the Inside Identity Series brought to you by TechCabal in partnership with QoreID. QoreID is a dedicated digital identity and analytics solution for B2B.
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