Staff Writer

Telecommunications giant, Vodacom Lesotho, has hailed its partnership with retail outlets, Pick n Pay and LCS, who have since joined the company’s growing M-Pesa network.
In April and May, retail giants Pick n Pay and LCS, respectively became the latest additions to the fast growing network of M-Pesa agents across the country.

“With these two additions, M-Pesa’s agent network now sits at above 1 300 nationwide. This network is accompanied by and now servicing over 400 000 registered M-Pesa users in Lesotho. This figure way more than exceeds the 100000 conservative estimate that Vodacom had set to achieve with M-Pesa in its first year.

Speaking on these new partnerships with LCS and Pick n Pay and what they mean to both Vodacom and the retail giants, Vodacom’s Communications lead, Mpho Brown, said:
“In the eleven months that Vodacom Lesotho introduced its mobile money platform, M-Pesa, the service has seen accelerated growth across the country, with the uptake in Lesotho being the fastest of any country where the innovation has been launched.
“As Vodacom, we made commitments, from the beginning, to bring life-changing services and offerings to Basotho through M-Pesa, and so far, the numbers indicate we have really outdone ourselves.
“The Pick n Pay and LCS partnerships are the beginning of yet another layer of services that we plan to add to our M-Pesa service. M-Pesa customers will be able to access the full range of services offered through M-Pesa at both Pick n Pay and LCS.
“It is well-acknowledged that these two centres see thousands and thousands of Basotho each day going through their doors. By bringing M-Pesa to these centres, we’re continuing to bring life-enhancing services, through the mobile phone, to Basotho.”

Mr Brown commended both LCS and Pick n Pay for being so “forward-thinking” in understanding the benefits and convenience that mobile technology can bring to Basotho.
“Vodacom looks forward to more exciting payment options that are in the pipeline, which will allow more flexible payments and a wider range of transactions to take place. This partnership with both LCS and Pick n Pay is expected to play a key role when time comes for these new offerings,” Mr Brown said.