How Is Mobile Money Transforming Lives in Lesotho

Introduction

Lesotho, like many countries in Southern Africa, is undergoing a digital financial revolution. With the rise in mobile phone usage and supportive financial inclusion strategies, access to digital payments is becoming increasingly crucial. C-Pay, Chaperone’s secure payments platform, is playing a transformative role — helping everyday Basotho skip queues, send money easily, pay bills, and empower small businesses. In this article, we explore how mobile money and our flagship C-Pay are changing lives — from rural households to MSMEs — and what the broader data says about the mobile money wave across the region.

The Broader Mobile Money Context in Lesotho & Sub-Saharan Africa

• Lesotho has made significant strides in financial inclusion: according to the Lesotho National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2024-2028 (NFIS II), access to financial services reached 91% in 2021, largely driven by mobile money.
• A recent survey by FinMark Trust suggests that about 66% of Basotho used mobile money in 2021 used mobile money services in 2021.
• According to the World Bank’s Global Findex Database 2025, Mobile payment accounts across Sub-Saharan Africa rose sharply: from ~27% of adults in 2021 to ~40% in 2024 owning mobile money accounts. Savings via mobile money accounts also jumped — 23% of adults in the region reported saving using their mobile accounts in 2024.
• The role of mobile money isn’t just transactional: it’s enabling savings, more transparent merchant payments, and formal borrowing. However, credit remains under-used via mobile money in many countries.

How C-Pay Is Making a Difference for Everyday People

Improving Accessibility & Convenience

• For many Basotho in rural areas or small towns, banks and physical payment centers are far away. C-Pay’s USSD code (*220*77#), mobile app, and agent network allow users to send money, pay bills, or top up airtime without needing internet or high-end devices.

Empowering Businesses & MSMEs

• Small business owners benefit from cashless transactions: reduced risk, easier record-keeping, and faster payments. This supports the growth of MSMEs, which are a key part of Lesotho’s economy under NFIS II.
• Businesses can also use our bespoke solutions, like the API Hub, to accept payments, purchase tickets, or integrate with digital platforms, expanding their reach.

Supporting Savings & Financial Inclusion

• C-Pay now enables users to save their funds securely—whether individually or as part of group savings. Previously vulnerable to theft, group savings are now protected through the Sabu-Sabu Group Savings feature. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, data shows that mobile money accounts significantly boost savings, especially among those who lack access to formal financial tools.
• Women, youth, and other marginalized groups are benefiting disproportionately because digital payments lower barriers related to geography, documentation, or physical bank branches.

Enhancing Security, Trust & Consumer Protection

• Fraud prevention, secure PINs, transparent fees, and strong regulatory oversight (licensed by the Central Bank of Lesotho) underpin trust. Users feel safer when platforms are reliable.

Real-Life Stories

Youth entrepreneur: Thabo Maibi, the cofounder of Career Agent, uses the C-Pay API Hub to receive payments from customers on his Career Agent Mobile App.

Simplified Ticketing Solutions: Ticketbox Lesotho, the renowned ticket platform in Lesotho, is expanding its reach through the integration with C-Pay. Users can now buy a ticket hassle-free on their phone via USSD, Mobile App, and the broader network of C-Pay Agents.

Women’s savings groups previously vulnerable to theft have seen their fortunes change with digital tools. Sabu-Sabu’s digital savings feature allows rural women to unlock growth, fund micro-businesses, and manage school fees, making a noticeable social impact.

The Road Ahead: Data, Growth, & Regional Trends

Recent data from the St. Louis Fed showed active mobile money accounts in Lesotho rising to over 1.39 million in 2023, out of 1.6 million mobile subscriptions (Trading Economics), reflecting deep market penetration.

Across Africa, the growth is astounding: the continent’s mobile money market is forecasted to expand from USD 951 million in 2025 to over USD 3.6 billion by 2033, according to Market Data Forecast. In Lesotho, continued partnership between industry, regulators, and innovators like Chaperone will be key to increasing interoperability, building cross-border payment systems, and making financial services ever more inclusive.

Conclusion

The mobile money revolution in Lesotho is well underway, empowering people, businesses, and communities. Chaperone’s C-Pay is at the forefront of this journey, pioneering secure, convenient, and accessible financial services for all. As mobile money adoption rises and more Basotho enter the digital economy, the potential for social and economic transformation grows.

Embrace the digital payment future with Chaperone’s C-Pay—helping build an inclusive, resilient, and prosperous Lesotho for generations to come.