This archive report was first published on 7 May 2021.
On May 7, 2021, Econet Group's subsidiary Cassava Fintech International (Cassava Fintech) and Mastercard announced a strategic partnership to enhance digital inclusion in Africa.
TravelPass, a digital health pass developed by Cassava Fintech in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), is a key component of this partnership.
Recognized as a leading initiative in the fight against the cross-border spread of Covid-19 in Africa, TravelPass is accessible to users of Cassava Fintech's Sasai SuperApp.
Mastercard is partnering with Cassava Fintech to strengthen the security of TravelPass through its Community Pass platform, an interoperable digital platform facilitating service delivery for marginalized individuals and communities.
The joint initiative aims to provide a unified solution with enhanced security and convenience, promoting safe cross-border travel in Africa in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Darlington Mandivenga, CEO of Cassava Fintech, the partnership with Mastercard will enable both companies to tackle the challenges facing African economies as they reopen post the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are excited to work with Mastercard to explore solutions that will mitigate the risk of falsified presentation of a third party’s Travel Pass at access and transit points,” Mandivenga said, adding that the same technology could also be used in payment solutions.
Mark Elliott, Divisional President, Southern Africa, Mastercard, emphasized the company's commitment to exploring new solutions that will benefit the continent, stating, “We look forward to joining hands with Cassava Fintech in exploring new solutions that will make a difference and benefit the continent. In addition to digital innovation for future travel, Cassava will also leverage our secure payments network to advance access to financial services.”
