For years, Mr Geofrey Pascal Paul, a 39-year-old geography teacher at Hai Secondary School, had lived within the tight margins of a teacher’s salary, balancing loans, family needs and school responsibilities.
Like many of his colleagues, he described his payslip with humour. “We teachers have a saying that when your salary slip is full of loans, we say it has stitches,” he said. “Salary slip ina mishono (stiches).”
That phrase now frames a moment he still struggles to fully believe: winning a brand-new Mazda CX-5 through Airtel Money’s nationwide promotion.
“When I received the call, I first asked a fellow teacher, how can I buy a car with these salary constraints?” he said. “But he told me, God the craftsman can perform miracles.”
Mr Paul said the win came after his routine use of the My Airtel Money App for everyday transactions, including sending money and paying bills. He said even a recent family emergency had involved the platform.
“My father was sick and asked me to send him money for hospital care,” he said. “I sent TZS 100,000. After a short while, I received a call from Airtel telling me I had won a car.”
He described the moment as both surreal and emotional.
“I had a long-standing dream, and today it has been fulfilled through Airtel Tanzania,” he said. “I encourage people to use the Airtel Money App. It is reliable and works across the country.”
At home, the news was met with disbelief and joy in equal measure.
His wife, Beatrice Geofrey, said her husband had often spoken about owning a car while still young.
“In January he said when he finishes paying school commitments, he must buy a car while still young,” she said. “I asked him what kind of car he wanted, and he mentioned luxury vehicles.”
She said she initially treated it as a distant dream.
“I told him if you want luxury cars, then avoid debt from school fees,” she said. “He said he would manage it. Now it feels like a miracle, but it has happened.”
She added that the family had long relied on Airtel services for communication and money transfers.
“We have used this network for over 15 years,” she said. “Even our parents use Airtel Money because it makes sending money easy. This car will help not only our family but also our neighbours.”
At Hai Secondary School, the win quickly became a shared moment of pride among staff.
Headmaster Mr Alex John Warioba said the entire school community was celebrating the teacher’s achievement.
“The entire leadership of the school and all teachers are aware that one of us has received a car from Airtel,” he said. “We are all very happy for him.”
He also highlighted the broader impact of digital services in the district, particularly in education.
“Tanzania has provided free internet to 35 schools in Hai District through the SmartWasomi programme,” he confessed. “We are very grateful. Internet access is helping teachers download learning materials without the burden of expensive data bundles.”
Airtel Money Director Mr Andrew Lugamba said the award was part of the company’s wider effort to promote digital financial services and reward customer engagement.
“Today is a special moment as we witness the fulfilment of a promise to one of our loyal customers, teacher Geofrey Pascal Paul, who has won this Mazda CX-5 through consistent use of the My Airtel Money App,” he said.
He said the campaign is designed to encourage the use of digital payments in everyday life, from sending money to paying utilities and purchasing services.
Through the My Airtel Money App, customers can send and receive money, pay bills, buy airtime and settle utility payments, including electricity, directly from their phones.
“In districts like Hai, where agriculture and small businesses drive the local economy, Airtel Money has become a reliable partner for secure and fast transactions without the need to carry cash,” he said.
He added that mobile financial services are helping expand access to financial tools for farmers, traders and small business owners.
“This is what financial inclusion looks like in practice,” he said. “Every Tanzanian should be able to participate in the digital economy regardless of location or income.”
He urged customers to continue adopting digital platforms. “Use digital services in your daily transactions. Airtel Money is simple, safe and built for everyone,” he said.
Airtel’s Zonal Business Manager Mr Faustine Mtui noted that the campaign reflects how digital technology is changing everyday life in Kilimanjaro, improving speed and safety of transactions across communities.
They said the winner, a teacher, reflects the broad reach of mobile financial services across professions, from education to farming and trade.
They added that in an agricultural region such as Hai, digital payments are increasingly supporting coffee and banana farmers, enabling faster payments and reducing risks associated with cash handling.
“Parents can now send school fees instantly and community groups can collect contributions with ease,” one official said. “This is strengthening both economic activity and social trust.”
The event ended with the official handover of the Mazda CX-5, marking another milestone in Airtel Money’s push to expand digital financial inclusion across Tanzania.
