VODACOM CELEBRATES HERITAGE DAY WITH S. AFRICANS

South African High Commissioner to Tanzania, H.E. Noluthando Mayende-Malepe.

In an effort to promote and strengthen unity among Tanzanians and people from other nations, Vodacom Tanzania, through its M-Pesa service, joined South African citizens in Dar es Salaam to celebrate their Heritage Day over the weekend.

South Africa's Heritage Day is a holiday commemorated every year on September 24th with the aim of celebrating their culture and diversity in beliefs and traditions aspects.

Speaking at the event, the South African High Commissioner to Tanzania, H.E. Noluthando Mayende-Malepe, congratulated South African citizens living in Tanzania for participating in this important day and honoring their roots.

"As we mark 29 years of our nation's independence, we must take pride in the unity we continue to uphold. Today, we celebrate together with nations such as Comoros, Namibia, Mozambique, and Somalia, whose ambassadors are all present here. This is a positive sign for our African continent, with a long history of liberation struggles against colonialism, and now we are free. I am proud to see our nations collaborating in various economic and social activities, but more importantly, to see peace and love prevailing despite the various challenges we face. I hope that next year we will come together again to celebrate our 30th year of independence," said Ms. Mayende-Malepe.

On his part, Vodacom’s e-Commerce Director, Mr. Epimack Mbeteni, noted that it was a unique honor for Vodacom to be part of these celebrations which hold great significance to the people of South Africa, helping them to preserve traditions and culture passed down from one generation to another. He further commended the ongoing collaboration between the two nations which has far-reaching socio-economic benefits.

"The presence of a strong and enduring bilateral partnership between South Africa and Tanzania has been greatly beneficial to citizens and service providers alike. The free movement of human, financial, and material resources between our two nations is something to be proud of, considering that not all nations have managed to achieve this. A good example is how Tanzanians wholeheartedly welcome products and services from South Africa, and likewise, we experience the same warmth when we go there. To illustrate this, even Vodacom Tanzania, the company I work for, has its origins in South Africa," said Mr. Mbeteni.

South Africa and Tanzania have a long history of cooperation, from the time of fighting for independence to the current developmental collaborations in many areas including digital innovations and technology.

"The world is witnessing digital advancements driven by the growth of communication technology. This allows people to work in different parts of the world without fear for their safety and with the assurance of staying in touch with the families they left behind. Our services like international remittances and international bundles are designed to allow people such as yourselves to stay connected while away from home. Moreover, through our IMT portfolio, Vodacom customers can send and receive money from 8 SADC countries including South Africa," added the Director of M-Pesa.

Vodacom further shared with attendees how they continue to innovate and re-design their products and services to meet the changing needs of their customers. This includes the introduction of Tanzania’s first 5G network, the launch of eSIM, home, and office connectivity solutions as well as the advancements made on the M-Pesa App allowing it to support various services such as flight ticket bookings among many others with the goal of being a one-stop-shop for products and services whilst pushing for a digital lifestyle.