This archive report was first published on 7 May 2020.
On May 7, 2020, Eywa, a transportation solutions provider, launched its EYWA Transit Solution in Tanzania, aimed at digitizing public transport and making it more efficient.
The EYWA Transit Solution, powered by Mastercard QR and Tanzania's NMB Bank, is a mobile App and Transit Card combination that enables commuters to pay for their fares digitally.
According to Toffène Kama, CEO of EYWA, the solution aims to make decent mass-transit services accessible to all, with a goal of moving millions of Africans daily and safely, at an affordable cost.
With the EYWA Transit Solution, commuters can avoid ticket-buying queues, check into the waiting pool of their destination, track the time of arrival of their buses, and avoid human-to-human contact by scanning their card to board the bus.
Commercial bus operators will also benefit from the solution, as they will be able to view their passenger pool ahead of their arrival at the next station, ensure swift and organized passenger pick-up, and be pre-informed on the number of stops per trip, making travel time more predictable and efficient.
Mastercard has launched several digital payment partnerships in Tanzania over the past year, resulting in a Mastercard QR consumer base of tens of millions and more than 50,000 new merchants accepting QR payments in the country.
Adam Jones, Area Business Head, East Africa, Mastercard, said, “With more people traveling around urban areas for work or leisure, cities are looking to better address the demand across public transit networks. We are proud to have partnered with EYWA and NMB Bank to launch Mastercard QR in the transport sector, an integral part of Tanzania’s economy.”
The EYWA Transit Solution promises to have a substantial and positive impact on driving inclusive growth and building the digital economy in Tanzania.
The system also promises new spending and sanitary behaviors in the light of COVID-19, as it is touch-free and satisfies a growing need for an organized mass transit network that will appeal to all.
Passengers will receive their free EYWA Transit Card from EYWA agents located at bus stops and top-up through any of their preferred platforms. Commuters will receive information on the next arriving bus on their mobile phones. Smartphone users can also download the EYWA App for an even better user experience.
NMB Bank is no stranger to enabling commercial transport operators, having enabled commercial motorcycle riders (boda-boda riders) to receive payments from customers directly to their NMB bank accounts last year.
“Formalization of these payments is a key component of NMB’s drive to enhance financial inclusion among the commuters and the transport sector as a whole,” said Ruth Zaipuna, Acting Managing Director of NMB Bank.
The service will be available at all bus stations nationwide in Tanzania, starting with Dar es Salaam. Mastercard and EYWA plan to expand to other markets across East Africa, enabling more people to enjoy smooth and seamless digital transit services in the coming months.
