STAFF WRITER
Namibia has launched a new instant payment platform called WayaMe, following the successful completion of pilot testing for the country’s Instant Payment Solution (IPS).
The pilot marks the final milestone before the system is rolled out in phases nationwide.
The Instant Payments Namibia (IPN) said WayaMe is the consumer-facing brand of the national instant payment system. It is the name that users will see and recognise when making or receiving payments through the platform.
IPN said the introduction of WayaMe is part of Namibia’s broader drive to modernise the payment system and build a more inclusive and digitally connected financial ecosystem.
Instant payment refers to the real-time transfer of money between individuals, businesses, and government systems. Unlike traditional bank transfers that can take hours or days to clear, instant payments are processed immediately, with funds available to the recipient within seconds.
Through WayaMe, users will be able to send and receive money quickly and securely, without delays associated with older payment systems.
Chief Operating Officer of Instant Payments Namibia, Marsorry Ickua, said WayaMe will serve as the main public identity for the country’s instant payment services.
He said the brand will help the public understand and adopt the new system as more services are introduced over time.
“WayaMe is the consumer-facing brand of Namibia’s Instant Payment Solution through which users can access and recognise payment services enabled by the platform,” Ickua said.
He added that the platform will support a range of payment functions in future, including Government-to-Person (G2P) payments, person-to-person transfers, merchant and business payments, as well as cash withdrawals from any ATM linked to a wallet.
IPN said participating financial institutions and payment service providers will gradually integrate WayaMe into their customer communication, awareness campaigns and digital platforms.
While banks and service providers will continue to operate under their own brands, WayaMe will act as a common national identifier for instant payment services.
IPN said the pilot phase involved live transactions between the Bank of Namibia’s Currency Management and Banking Operations (CMBO) and the first group of participating institutions, including Bank Windhoek, NamPost and Letshego Bank Namibia.
The successful transactions confirmed that the system can process payments securely and efficiently in real time.
Ickua said the completion of the pilot marks a major step forward for the country’s financial modernisation.
“For the first time, we have demonstrated instant payments operating successfully in a live production environment, confirming that the solution is ready for implementation,” he said.
“This brings us one step closer to delivering a payment experience that is faster, more convenient and more accessible for all users.”
Following the pilot, the system will now be introduced in phases. The first phase will focus on Government-to-Person payments, allowing social grants and other government disbursements to be paid through the platform.
Later phases will expand to include more payment options aimed at improving convenience, choice and financial inclusion across the country.
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