Sasai Money Transfer, a business under Cassava Technologies, announced that it has teamed up with Airtel Money to expand its Zero Fees initiative. This partnership aims to provide free remittance services to a broader range of African markets, starting with Uganda and potentially extending to high-traffic remittance corridors in Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia.
Initially launched in May 2024 with Econet in Zimbabwe, Sasai Money Transfer’s Zero Fees initiative has eliminated remittance sending fees for users in the United Kingdom and South Africa. This service allows senders to transfer money to family and friends in Uganda without incurring any fees. Airtel Money Uganda ensures that recipients can also cash out their funds for free from their Airtel Money wallet, creating a seamless and cost-effective experience for both senders and receivers.
This innovative offering is a significant step forward in the African financial landscape, where informal remittance channels still dominate. By digitizing and formalizing money transfers, Sasai Money Transfer aims to bridge the gap between formal and informal channels, making financial services more accessible and affordable for all Africans. This vision aligns with Cassava Technologies’ broader goal of a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind.
Japhet Aritho, Managing Director of Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda Limited, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “We have partnered with Sasai Money Transfer on their innovative initiative that aligns with our own agenda of ensuring financial inclusivity for all Ugandans. This offer brings even more value to our customers, coinciding with our big consumer promotion, Vroomula Amajja, which offers customers a chance to win daily cash prizes, weekly Boda-Boda prizes, and a Toyota Rav4 Hybrid by simply receiving remittances into their Airtel Money wallet.”
The collaboration with Airtel Money Uganda represents a strategic expansion for Sasai Money Transfer, which has already seen great success with its Zero Fees partnership with EcoCash, Zimbabwe’s largest mobile money operator. This initiative has proven popular among senders in the UK and South Africa, who appreciate the relief from the high remittance fees typically charged by other operators. Many have described the service as an “indispensable lifeline” for their families back home.
Darlington Mandivenga, CEO of Sasai Fintech, highlighted the importance of this partnership in Sasai’s broader strategy: “The partnership with Airtel Money Uganda offers an important avenue into one of Africa’s largest remittance markets. As Sasai, this is where we want to be, ensuring we reach as many people as possible and ultimately leave no African behind. We are in a competitively unique position where we have been able to utilize our source market assets, operational efficiencies, and group synergies, while collaborating with like-minded partners such as Airtel Money to deliver innovative offerings.”
The Zero Fees initiative by Sasai Money Transfer is a pioneering effort in the remittance industry, demonstrating the potential of collaboration between Money Transfer Operators and Mobile Money Operators. In a sector where remittance fees can be as high as 13%, this initiative offers a much-needed alternative, encouraging the formalization of international money transfers and providing a safer, more reliable option for African migrants who rely on these services to support their families.
