Gaborone, Botswana//Mukuru (www.Mukuru.com), a leading financial services provider, has launched its Visa-branded Companion Card in Botswana. Linked to the Mukuru Wallet, this new offering expands its functionality and enables customers to make secure, cashless payments for everyday purchases directly from their Wallet balance.
With the Mukuru Wallet, customers already manage their money from their phones. Now, the Companion Card extends that convenience to in-person spending. Because the Card is linked directly to the Mukuru Wallet, there is no need to transfer funds between accounts before making a purchase. 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 is timely because 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%, with approximately 4.21 million connections in a population of 2.54 million. (https://apo-opa.co/3U5Rowx) Despite this, access to formal banking has not kept pace, with current estimates suggesting that 38% of adults remain unbanked.
Security Customers can Trust
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.
Thembani Moyo, Country Manager for Mukuru Botswana, 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 be 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.
Andy Jury, Group CEO of Mukuru, added, “This is about strengthening what the Mukuru Wallet can do for our customers. We’re building a financial services brand around real, everyday needs, helping customers manage, move, and spend their money securely, and on their own terms.”
For many Botswana households, the Wallet and Card together offer a practical alternative to traditional banking, giving customers control over their money without the barriers that formal banking can present.
Amon Magunje, Country Manager for Visa, Botswana, 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.”
Shathiso Choto, Head of Retail Banking, Access Bank added, “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.”
Getting Started
Customers can sign up for a Mukuru Wallet via WhatsApp on +267 7718 4600, at any Mukuru booth, branch or accredited agent across Botswana. Once their Wallet is funded with a minimum of P50, they will be issued with a Mukuru Card. The physical card extends the functionality of the digital Wallet, giving customers a simple way to use their Wallet balance for everyday payments wherever Visa is accepted.
