GABORONE, Botswana, August 19/APO Group: Leading financial services provider Mukuru has launched its Visa-branded Companion Card in Botswana, where the new offering expands its functionality and enables customers to make secure, cashless payments for everyday purchases directly from their Wallet balance.
Linked to and armed with the Mukuru Wallet, customers already manage their money from their phones. Now, the Companion Card extends that convenience to in-person spending, reducing the need to transfer funds between accounts before shopping. This means no traditional bank account is required, and both the Wallet and Companion Card work across all mobile networks.
For consumers in Botswana, this means fewer trips to cash-out points and greater access to cashless payment options. Customers can now pay for groceries, transport, utilities, school fees, and online shopping wherever Visa is accepted, bringing digital transactions into daily life.
The launch comes at the right time since it addresses a critical gap in a market where digital infrastructure is robust but financial exclusion persists. Botswana has one of Africa’s highest mobile penetration rates at 166 percent, with approximately 4.21 million connections in a population of 2.54 million. Despite this, access to formal banking has not kept pace, with current estimates suggesting that 38 percent of adults remain unbanked.
Security is a key feature of the Companion Card. A customer PIN protects every transaction, and online purchases benefit from Visa’s 3D Secure authentication. If a card is lost or misplaced, customers can instantly block or stop it from their phone. In addition, as a registered Electronic Payment Service Provider in Botswana, Mukuru ensures that its services are secure and regulated, helping improve everyday financial access.
Country Manager for Mukuru Botswana Thembani Moyo commented, “Our customers already trust the Mukuru Wallet to manage their money. The Companion Card gives them a new, practical way to use it; so paying for groceries or topping up airtime is as easy as swiping a card, without ever needing to visit a branch or carry cash.”
The Companion Card is part of Mukuru’s broader ambition to pose as a complete financial services partner for its customers. As Botswana’s economy digitises and consumers increasingly expect cashless, card-based ways to pay, the Wallet ecosystem is designed to evolve alongside these needs.
While the Country Manager for Visa, Botswana, Amon Magunje added, “Visa is committed to expanding access to the digital economy through secure and innovative payment solutions. For us, the launch of the Mukuru Companion Card in Botswana marks an important step in advancing financial inclusion, connecting more consumers to the security, convenience and global reach of the Visa network. This collaboration combines Visa’s global capabilities with Mukuru’s deep local presence to deliver greater value and choice to consumers across Botswana.”
On the other hand, the Head of Retail Banking, Access Bank, Shathiso Choto underlines, “At Access Bank, we are proud to champion initiatives that expand access to safe and reliable financial services. Supporting the Mukuru Companion Card allows us to empower more customers to actively and confidently engage in Botswana’s digital economy.”
