តាមរាបសួរ, Victoria from Techpoint here, Here’s what I’ve got for you today: Tanzania leads Africa’s contactless payment shift Why fintechs are expanding beyond one product Lawmakers probe Showmax shutdown fallout Tanzania leads Africa’s contactless payment shift Contactless and cashless payment through qr code and mobile banking Paying with mobile money in Africa is about to feel a lot more like tapping your debit card at a POS terminal. In Tanzania, that shift is already happening, and it could signal where payments across the continent are headed next. Vodacom Tanzania has introduced Africa’s first mobile money tap-to-pay feature on M-Pesa, allowing users to make contactless payments directly from their phones. The feature works through a virtual Visa card embedded in the M-Pesa app, meaning users can simply tap their phones on payment terminals anywhere Visa is accepted – no physical card needed. What this means is that mobile money is evolving beyond transfers and bill payments into something closer to a full banking alternative. Instead of entering PINs or USSD codes, users can now pay instantly at checkout, while businesses get faster and more secure transactions. It also plugs M-Pesa into global payment rails, connecting Tanzanian users to international merchants and markets. It matters because Tanzania is already one of Africa’s strongest mobile money markets, with millions relying on M-Pesa daily. Adding contactless payments makes the system more competitive with traditional banking and card networks, while also improving financial inclusion for people who may never own a bank card but already have a mobile wallet. Related Story: Meta faces probe across 21 African markets Beyond convenience, the move fits into a bigger trend. With partnerships spanning Visa, Alipay, and regional players, M-Pesa is positioning itself as a global payments platform, not just a local wallet. As more Africans trade across borders and shop internationally, features like tap-to-pay could redefine how mobile money is used, from sending cash to powering everyday commerce worldwide. Why fintechs are expanding beyond one product A decade ago, Nigerian fintech startups were the underdogs, taking on traditional banks with a simple promise: make financial services faster, cheaper, and accessible to everyone. Back then, banking was slow, unreliable, and mostly limited to urban areas, leaving millions of Nigerians out of the system. Victoria Fakiya – Senior Writer Techpoint Digest Stop struggling to find your tech career path Discover in-demand tech skills and build a standout portfolio in this FREE 5-day email course Launch Tech Career Newsletter Email Get started now To compete, these startups didn’t try to do everything at once. Instead, they focused on one thing — payments, lending, or cards — and did it really well. This “unbundling” approach helped them move faster than banks, build trust, and grow quickly without needing massive infrastructure. But things are changing. Today, many of those same fintechs, like Moniepoint, Sycamore, FairMoney, and Paystack, are expanding into multiple services, from savings to credit and business tools. In short, they’re starting to look more like the banks they once challenged, as the industry shifts from unbundling to “rebundling.” The shift is largely about survival and growth. As competition tightens and transaction fees become less reliable, fintechs are chasing new revenue streams and deeper customer relationships. What started as a strategy to break into the market is now evolving into a race to own the full financial experience. Check out Chimgozirim’s latest for more information. Lawmakers probe Showmax shutdown fallout Showmax Showmax’s shutdown isn’t just another corporate decision; it’s now a political issue in South Africa. Lawmakers are stepping in, raising questions about what it means for jobs, local content, and the future of the country’s film and TV industry. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has launched an investigation into cost-cutting moves by Groupe Canal+, the new owner of MultiChoice. The probe follows concerns raised by an MP over the shutdown of Showmax and its potential impact on employment. Regulators like the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and the Competition Commission of South Africa are expected to brief lawmakers, with oversight visits to major broadcasters also planned. What this means is that Canal+’s takeover is now under closer scrutiny, especially regarding whether it is meeting public-interest commitments tied to the deal. While the company insists the Showmax shutdown won’t lead to layoffs, there are growing concerns about ripple effects across the broader creative ecosystem from producers and actors to writers and technical crews who depend on local platforms. It matters because Showmax has been one of the key platforms pushing South African stories and giving local creators a distribution channel. Lawmakers warn that losing it could shrink opportunities for homegrown content and tilt the market further towards international programming, potentially weakening the country’s cultural voice and creative economy. For context, Canal+ completed its acquisition of MultiChoice in late 2025 and has since begun cutting costs, including reportedly squeezing suppliers and reviewing underperforming units. Showmax, which had been running at a loss, was deemed unsustainable and is now being phased out, with Canal+ planning to introduce its own streaming platform across MultiChoice markets. In case you missed it African agtech funding drops to $170M in 2025 as debt overtakes equity for first time What I’m watching Why Fit and Healthy People Still Get HEART ATTACKS? menstruation and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS | Causes |Treatments|Dandelion Medical Animation Opportunities e-Tranzact is looking to hire a product marketing office. Apply here. Bumpa is hiring for several roles, including Bumpa Expert Lead (Account Management) – Customer Success; Product Designer; and Mid-level Motion/Graphic Designer, Mid-level Full-stack Engineer (Commerce), and Senior Fullstack Engineer (Commerce). Apply here. Tech Unite Africa returns on March 26, 2026, at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, bringing founders, investors, and industry leaders together for panels, exhibitions, and networking. Selected startups will compete in Startup World Cup Nigeria for a chance to reach the global finals and compete for a $1 million investment prize. Register or explore sponsorship opportunities here. ABDS 2026 will take place April 29–30, 2026, in Lagos, gathering founders, investors, developers, and policymakers shaping Africa’s blockchain and Web3 ecosystem. The summit focuses on industry insights, partnerships, and investment opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing crypto markets. Secure your pass or sponsorship here. Scrum Day Nigeria 2026 takes place on March 24 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, bringing together product leaders, Scrum Masters, engineers, and executives passionate about building better products. The one-day conference features practical keynotes, hands-on workshops, coaching clinics, and real-world case studies focused on product leadership, agile ways of working, and modern engineering practices. If your organisation is considering accelerating delivery whilst improving business outcomes at the same time, this is the room to be in. Apply here. Gates Foundation Africa is recruiting Senior Communications Officer at Abuja, Nigeria. Apply by March 25, 2026 here. Paga is hiring a Sales Manager. Apply here. Paga is hiring senior sales executives. Apply here. Paga is looking for sales executives. Apply here. Paga is recruiting Senior Key Account Managers. Apply here. Paga is hiring Account Managers. Apply here. As one of Techpoint Africa’s most engaged readers, you have a direct hand in shaping what we publish next. Take our quick, 3-minute survey to tell us the stories and features you value most. Your responses are anonymous, and your feedback will help guide our editorial focus in the months ahead. Fill the survey here. Interswitch is hiring a Strategic Partnerships Executive. Apply here. CANAL+ Group is looking for a CDI – Finance & Administrative Director GVA. Apply here. Tix Africa is hiring a finance operations specialist (Lagos, Nigeria). Apply here. Flutterwave is hiring for several marketing and finance roles. Apply here. Credit Direct is expanding and hiring across Product, Tech, Risk, Strategy & HR. Apply here. Spot & Tango is looking to hire a Customer Experience Specialist (Remote). Apply here. Infuse is looking to hire a Senior Product Manager (Contract, Remote). Apply here. LemFi is looking to hire a Customer Support Associate (Lagos, Hybrid). Apply here. Moniepoint is hiring for over 100 roles. Apply here. Building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect? You can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join. To pitch your startup or product to a live audience, check out this link. Have any fresh products you’d like us to start selling? Check out this link here. Follow Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here. Have a wonderful Wednesday! Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa