Orange Money and MyZaka Charges in Botswana (Plus Smega)
Orange Money charges in Botswana: P6 flat to send, P6–P114 to cash out. MyZaka: P5 to send, P6–P175 to withdraw. Above P2,000, Orange is much cheaper.
In this guide▾
For everyday transfers in Botswana, it barely matters whether you use Orange Money or MyZaka. Sending costs a flat P6 on Orange Money and P5 on MyZaka, and up to P1,000 the two cost almost the same.
The real difference is cashing out large amounts. Withdrawing P5,000 costs P90 on Orange Money, but P125 on MyZaka. Full tables below, checked October 2026.
Orange Money vs MyZaka charges at a glance
| What you do | Orange Money | MyZaka (Mascom) |
|---|---|---|
| Send to a user on the same network | P6 flat | P5 flat |
| Withdraw P100 | P6 | P6 |
| Withdraw P500 | P13 | P12 |
| Withdraw P1,000 | P23 | P22 |
| Withdraw P2,000 | P42 | P45 |
| Withdraw P3,000 | P69 | P85 |
| Withdraw P5,000 | P90 | P125 |
| Withdraw P8,000 | P104 | P150 |
| Most you can move in one transaction | P9,501 including the fee | P10,000 |
For any other amount, our Orange Money and MyZaka charges calculator shows both networks side by side.
Sources: Orange Money tariff simulator (Orange Botswana, last updated September 2025) and Mascom's MyZaka tariffs, both
Orange Money charges in Botswana
Sending money with Orange Money
Sending to another Orange Money user costs a flat P6 for any amount from P25 up to the maximum. Sending P50 costs P6, and so does sending P9,000.
Sending to someone who doesn't have Orange Money costs more, because they collect the cash with a passcode at an Orange shop or agent:
| Amount sent to a non-Orange Money customer | Charge |
|---|---|
| P25 – P125 | P13 |
| P126 – P250 | P19 |
| P251 – P500 | P25 |
| P501 – P1,000 | P36 |
| P1,001 – P2,000 | P68 |
| P2,001 – P4,000 | P125 |
| P4,001 – P6,000 | P140 |
| P6,001 – P8,000 | P170 |
| P8,001 – P9,301 | P200 |
If the person you're paying can register for Orange Money, do it. At P1,000, the difference is P36 against P6.
Orange Money cash-out charges
| Amount you withdraw | Orange Money cash-out charge |
|---|---|
| P25 – P125 | P6 |
| P126 – P250 | P8 |
| P251 – P500 | P13 |
| P501 – P1,000 | P23 |
| P1,001 – P2,000 | P42 |
| P2,001 – P4,000 | P69 |
| P4,001 – P6,000 | P90 |
| P6,001 – P8,000 | P104 |
| P8,001 – P9,387 | P114 |
Orange's simulator notes that the maximum transaction amount "should be inclusive of the transfer fee". That's why the largest withdrawal is P9,387: the amount plus the P114 fee comes to P9,501.
MyZaka charges (Mascom)
MyZaka send money charges
Sending to a registered MyZaka customer costs a flat P5 for any amount from P25 to P10,000. Mascom has also cut the minimum transfer from P25 to P6.
Sending to an unregistered person costs more. You pay, and they withdraw for free:
| Amount sent to an unregistered customer | Charge to sender |
|---|---|
| P25 – P125 | P12 |
| P126 – P250 | P16 |
| P251 – P500 | P20 |
| P501 – P1,000 | P30 |
| P1,001 – P2,000 | P60 |
| P2,001 – P4,000 | P100 |
| P4,001 – P6,000 | P140 |
| P6,001 – P8,000 | P170 |
| P8,001 – P10,000 | P200 |
MyZaka withdrawal charges
| Amount you withdraw | MyZaka withdrawal charge |
|---|---|
| P25 – P125 | P6 |
| P126 – P250 | P8 |
| P251 – P500 | P12 |
| P501 – P1,000 | P22 |
| P1,001 – P2,000 | P45 |
| P2,001 – P4,000 | P85 |
| P4,001 – P6,000 | P125 |
| P6,001 – P8,000 | P150 |
| P8,001 – P10,000 | P175 |
MyZaka withdrawal limit
The most you can withdraw or send in one MyZaka transaction is P10,000, and the smallest transfer is now P6. Mascom doesn't publish a daily or monthly limit. If you need to move more than P10,000 in a day, dial *167# for the MyZaka menu or ask at a Mascom shop first.
Other MyZaka fees
According to Mascom, all MyZaka prices include VAT and agents may not charge anything extra.
- Registration and loading money into your account: free
- Buying airtime and paying your Mascom bill: free
- Paying a DStv bill: P5
- Buying prepaid electricity: P2.50
- Dormant account fee: if your MyZaka account has no transactions for 12 months, Mascom charges P10 a month until you transact again or the balance reaches zero.
The dormant fee catches people who forget about an old line. If you have money sitting in a MyZaka account you don't use, move it out or make a transaction once a year.
What about Smega (BTC)?
BTC's Smega is Botswana's third mobile money service. BTC doesn't publish its tariff clearly online. Comparison sites report a sending fee of about P5 and cash-out from about P6 for the smallest amounts, but the same sites list Orange Money fees that don't match Orange's own simulator, so treat their Smega numbers as rough. Like Orange Money and MyZaka, Smega shows the exact fee on the confirmation screen before you enter your PIN, so check it there.
Which is cheaper in Botswana: Orange Money or MyZaka?
- Sending to the same network: MyZaka, by P1 (P5 against P6).
- Withdrawing up to P1,000: about the same. MyZaka is P1 cheaper at P251–P1,000; both charge P6 and P8 on the smallest bands.
- Withdrawing P1,001–P2,000: Orange, by P3 (P42 against P45).
- Withdrawing more than P2,000: Orange, by a lot. P3,000 costs P69 against P85; P5,000 costs P90 against P125; P8,000 costs P104 against P150.
- Sending to someone not on the network: MyZaka is cheaper in most bands (P30 against P36 at P1,000), and the MyZaka recipient withdraws free.
The full cost of sending cash. Say you send P1,000 to your sister in Maun and she cashes it out. On Orange Money, that's P6 + P23 = P29. On MyZaka, it's P5 + P22 = P27. Either way, about 3% of the money goes in fees.
How to pay less
- Withdraw in one go, not in pieces. On Orange Money, taking out P4,000 at once costs P69. Two withdrawals of P2,000 cost P84.
- Watch the band edges. Withdrawing P2,000 on Orange costs P42. Withdrawing P2,001 costs P69. Leaving P1 in the wallet saves P27.
- Get regular contacts onto your network. Same-network sends are P5 or P6 flat. Sending to unregistered people costs up to P200.
- Use the network you'll cash out on. If you need large amounts in cash, Orange Money's withdrawal fees above P2,000 are much lower.
- Check the confirmation screen. All three services show the fee before you enter your PIN.
Mistakes that cost you money on mobile money
- Agents charging extra. Mascom says agents may not add fees beyond the published tariff. If an Orange agent asks for more than the simulator shows, use another agent.
- Old tariff charts. Several "2026" fee pages for Botswana still show older Orange cash-out fees (for example P92 for P2,001–P4,000). Orange's own simulator shows P69.
- Dormant MyZaka accounts. The P10 monthly fee after 12 idle months can slowly drain an old balance.
- PIN scams. No network will phone you and ask for your PIN. Someone claiming to have "sent money by mistake" should be checked against your actual balance, not an SMS.
Mobile money pricing varies a lot across Southern Africa. Lesotho's M-Pesa switches to a percentage above M5,000 (M-Pesa and EcoCash charges in Lesotho). Zimbabwe's EcoCash charges a percentage plus a 2% tax (EcoCash charges). Zambia adds a flat government levy to transfers (Airtel Money charges in Zambia). If family abroad send you money, compare remittance apps on total cost using our guide to the cheapest ways to send money to Africa. To see what comes off your salary before it reaches your wallet, check the BURS PAYE tax table, which gained a 27.5% band in July 2026. More Botswana guides are on our Botswana page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Orange Money charge to send money in Botswana?
A flat P6 to another Orange Money user, for any amount from P25 up to the maximum. Sending to someone without Orange Money costs P13 to P200, depending on the amount.
How much is the Orange Money withdrawal charge for P1,000?
P23. P1,000 is the top of the P501–P1,000 band. Withdrawing P1,001 moves you into the P42 band.
What are MyZaka withdrawal charges?
From P6 for P25–P125 up to P175 for P8,001–P10,000. Withdrawing P1,000 costs P22 and P5,000 costs P125, according to Mascom's tariff table.
How much does MyZaka charge to send money?
P5 flat to a registered MyZaka customer, for any amount from P25 to P10,000. Sending to an unregistered person costs P12 to P200, but they withdraw it for free.
Is Orange Money cheaper than MyZaka?
For withdrawals above P2,000, yes, by a wide margin: P90 against P125 at P5,000. For sending money and small withdrawals, MyZaka is P1 cheaper or the same.
What is the MyZaka withdrawal limit?
P10,000 per transaction, which costs P175 to withdraw. Mascom doesn't publish a daily limit. On Orange Money the largest single transaction is P9,501, including the fee.
Is there a fee for an inactive MyZaka account?
Yes. If a MyZaka account has no transactions for 12 months, Mascom charges P10 a month until you transact again or the balance reaches zero.
Keep reading
Omang Renewal in Botswana: P5 Fee, Requirements and How to Apply
Omang renewal costs P5 in Botswana, and a lost or stolen card costs P110. Requirements, photos, office hours and how long the new card takes.
6 Nov 2026 · 5 min read
Botswana Passport Fees: P260 Now, P400 From January 2027
Botswana passport fees are P260 for adults and P100 for children until 31 December 2026, then P400 and P200. What to bring and how to apply.
5 Nov 2026 · 5 min read
BURS PAYE Tax Table: How Much Tax You Pay in Botswana
BURS PAYE 2026: nil up to P48,000 a year, then 5% to 25%, and a new 27.5% band above P400,000 from 1 July 2026. Monthly tables, worked examples and net pay.
25 Oct 2026 · 5 min read