Zanzibar's new electric buses do not take cash. Every fare is paid by smart card, and every trip leaves a digital record. The same idea works for shops, hotels and schools.
What launched
On 23 July 2026 President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi launched the ZanBus electric bus project, implemented by the Zanzibar Social Security Fund (ZSSF). The long-term plan is a fleet of 500 electric buses.
Fares are fully cashless. Passengers pay with a smart card and top it up from a mobile phone or through Mixx's network of nearly 20,000 agents across Zanzibar. As Mixx's chief operating officer put it at the launch, "modern public transport cannot operate effectively without a modern payment system."
Why cashless matters
The project's stated goals include revenue transparency. When every payment is digital:
- Takings can be reconciled automatically, not counted at the end of the day.
- Leakage and errors are easier to spot.
- Managers see usage by route, time and day.
- Customers no longer need exact change.
The same benefits apply to any business that handles many small payments.
Lessons for businesses
- Start with the record, not the card: make sure every sale, booking or fee is captured in one system.
- Connect payments to that system so a payment updates the invoice, stock and customer account on its own. See our guide to digital payments in Tanzania.
- Offer the ways people already pay: mobile money, cards and bank transfers.
- Keep receipts and reports automatic, so finance teams stop copying numbers between screens.
What to plan for
- Reliable connectivity at every point of sale, with a backup link. See fibre in Zanzibar.
- Power protection for terminals and routers.
- Protection of customer data under the Personal Data Protection Act.
- Staff training before switching off cash.
Estimate what automation could save you with our automation savings calculator.
How Extrion can help
Extrion builds and integrates business systems in Zanzibar: payment integrations, booking and billing platforms, dashboards and the networks they run on. See our systems integration service or talk to us.
Frequently asked questions
How do passengers pay on ZanBus?
With a cashless smart card, topped up by mobile phone or at Mixx agents across Zanzibar.
Who runs the ZanBus project?
The Zanzibar Social Security Fund (ZSSF), which describes it as a long-term investment. The plan is to grow to 500 electric buses.
Can a small business link mobile money to its own system?
Yes. Mobile money and bank payments can be connected to billing, booking or stock systems so payments are recorded and reconciled automatically.
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