In Tanzania, women are increasingly leading when it comes to borrowing money through digital loan platforms, according to recent reports by financial analysts and mobile lending services.
This trend shows how digital finance is becoming a vital tool for women, especially in urban and rural areas where traditional banking may be out of reach.
Digital lending platforms allow people to borrow money using their mobile phones — no paperwork, no collateral, and the process is often completed within minutes.
Platforms like M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and T-Pesa have partnered with banks and microfinance institutions to offer small, short-term loans that can be used for:
Business capital
School fees
Emergencies
Daily needs
Experts say women are more likely to:
Run small businesses (like market stalls or food vending),
Handle family budgets, and
Seek quick solutions for household or education needs.
According to a report by the Bank of Tanzania, over 60% of mobile-based microloans in the past year were issued to women — a number that keeps growing.
“Women tend to repay their loans on time and use the money wisely,” says Fatma Mbise, a digital finance researcher.
Maria John, a single mother in Arusha, uses a mobile loan every month to buy tomatoes and onions in bulk for her food stall.
“I don’t have a bank account. These loans help me keep my business running when sales are low,” she explains.
Zawadi Mlela, a tailor in Morogoro, says the loan helped her buy sewing materials in bulk ahead of school uniform season. She paid it back within two weeks.
While the platforms have opened up opportunities, there are concerns too:
High interest rates (sometimes up to 20% per month)
Short repayment periods
Lack of regulation
Loan stacking (taking multiple loans at once)
Consumer rights groups are urging the government and financial regulators to introduce clear rules to protect borrowers from exploitation and data misuse.
The Bank of Tanzania and Ministry of Finance have acknowledged the need for digital lending laws and consumer education, especially targeting women in business.
They are working with mobile network operators to:
Lower interest rates,
Introduce longer repayment terms,
Ensure transparency in loan terms and conditions.
Financial inclusion is also a key pillar in Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2025, and empowering women through digital finance is seen as critical to achieving it.
This rise in digital borrowing among women shows that when financial tools are made accessible, women will take the lead — not just in borrowing, but in building stronger lives, businesses, and communities.
