Nkalime M-Pesa: Bringing Financial Inclusivity to the People of Lesotho

Success is better when it’s shared - whether it’s among friends, family, loved ones or communities. Success should be available to all, irrespective of where they come from or what their dreams are. 

With a large majority of Basotho being unbanked, access to loans and other financial services are limited and often hard to obtain, making it all the more difficult to access the capital they need to turn their dreams into tangible success stories. 

Recognising this gap in service delivery, Vodacom (VCL) financial services and Airvantage Lesotho decided to work together to find a solution that combines the benefits and capabilities of mobile money with the need for instant access to financial services. By leveraging the data gathered from individual mobile money users, both parties were able to build a custom solution capable of bringing greater financial inclusivity to the people of Lesotho.      

This underlying vision of making success inclusive and accessible is what drove VCL and Airvantage Lesotho to launch their brand new product Nkalime M-Pesa.

Nkalime M-Pesa: Loans to Suit Your Lifestyle

Nkalime M-Pesa is a digital product that puts you in the driver's seat of your financial future, allowing you to easily apply for short-term loans from the convenience of your mobile device. Unlike banks, where loan approval times can vary from 24 hours to up to two weeks, Nkalime M-Pesa grants you quick, unrestricted access to the loans you need. 

No frills, no fuss, just convenience.  

How Does It Work?

To apply for a loan through Nkalime M-Pesa, you first need to ensure you have an existing standard or premium account with M-Pesa with your full name and ID details verified. After that, it’s easy peasy. 

All you need to do is dial *200# and select 4 for Financial Services, select 1 for Nkalime, opt-in and accept the T&Cs, enter your pin, request a loan advance, select your loan amount and then confirm the amount. 

The loan request outcome will be made available instantly and when approved, will reflect in your M-Pesa account with a 15% charge on your requested loan amount. 

Loan amounts can range from as little as M10 and go up in denominations of M10, M20 and M50. The more you transact with M-Pesa and repay your existing loans on time, the higher the loan amount you’ll be able to request each time. 

The best part?

Payment options are entirely flexible, meaning you can choose how you want to pay back your loans in either partial or full payments within 30 days of receiving your loan - all with a click of a button. 

Simply dial *200# and select 4 for Financial Services, then 1 for Nkalime and enter your pin. Then select 2 for “Repay Nkalime” and select “Make payment” then enter the amount you want to repay. 

Making Success a Shared Experience Through Financial Inclusivity

Through Nkalime M-Pesa’s launch, financial inclusivity is greater than ever for the people of Lesotho. Many people will, for the first time, be able to access the loans they need to transform their lives, reshape their futures and make their goals and dreams a reality. 

So, why wait for tomorrow when you can start building the future you’ve always wanted today? With Nkalime M-Pesa, anything is possible.