pawaPay Accelerates Financial Inclusion Through Scalable Mobile Money Solutions

Day 24 | #40Days40FinTechs – Zambia and Malawi Edition

As digital payments continue to shape Africa’s financial future, pawaPay is emerging as a powerful force behind seamless mobile money integration across the continent.

With operations in at least 19 African countries, the company offers businesses a simplified, secure way to make and receive payments through a single API and centralized dashboard.

In Malawi, pawaPay has built a solid reputation over the past three years as a reliable mobile money aggregator. By offering robust mobile money services, pawaPay empowers hundreds of merchants, including brands like BetPawa, to collect and disburse funds efficiently via digital wallets.

“We enable our customers to deposit into their wallets and make withdrawals with ease. Our strength lies in removing friction from mobile transactions,” said Arthur Muyepa, pawaPay’s Country Manager for Malawi. “We’re licensed by the Reserve Bank of Malawi, and since our pilot phase in 2022, we’ve grown from one merchant to over 170.”

The growth has been remarkable. In 2023 alone, pawaPay processed USD 24 million, a figure that jumped to USD 207 million in 2024 reflecting both growing demand and the company’s expanding footprint.

Despite this progress, Muyepa points out that Malawi’s FinTech sector still faces significant hurdles, such as limited interoperability between banks and mobile money operators, as well as low mobile money penetration and collaboration.

“Markets like Kenya are more integrated,” he noted. “Here, we still have work to do. That’s why initiatives like #40Days40FinTechs are vital. They shine a light on key issues while encouraging dialogue, capacity building, and industry cooperation.”

pawaPay has taken a proactive role in this transformation by hosting FinTech Fridays industry forums that bring together competing players to share insights and foster strategic partnerships.

Their participation in #40Days40FinTechs, now in its first Zambia and Malawi edition, underscores a broader goal: promoting inclusive finance and showcasing African FinTech innovation. The initiative, which has already featured over 200 stories across East Africa, continues to give visibility to scalable solutions and pioneers in digital finance.

By supporting platforms like Mojaloop and following Level One Project principles, pawaPay is not just facilitating payments it’s helping build an interoperable and inclusive financial ecosystem that works for everyone, especially the underserved.