Safaricom’s Ziidi vs Mali: Which Investment Platform is Better?

Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecom company, has introduced Ziidi, a new Money Market Fund (MMF) accessible via M-Pesa. This move comes after Mali, its first attempt at an MMF in partnership with Genghis Capital, faced operational challenges. As both platforms offer Kenyans an opportunity to earn daily interest on their savings, many are wondering: which is the better investment option?

 

Background: Mali vs Ziidi

 

Mali was launched in 2019 as a pioneering initiative to allow Safaricom users to invest as little as KES 100 and earn competitive returns through M-Pesa. However, internal ownership disputes between Safaricom and Genghis Capital led to delays in its full rollout. Some users also reported issues with accessing funds, further raising concerns about its reliability.

To address these challenges, Safaricom unveiled Ziidi in late 2024, in partnership with Standard Investment Bank, ALA Capital Limited, and Sanlam Investments East Africa Limited. This new MMF was designed to provide a seamless, more stable alternative to Mali while ensuring compliance with Capital Markets Authority (CMA) regulations.

 

Key Differences: Mali vs Ziidi

 

1. Investment and Access to Funds

 

Minimum Investment: Both Mali and Ziidi require a minimum deposit of KES 100, making them accessible to a wide range of Kenyans.

 

Transaction Costs: Both platforms offer zero transaction fees, meaning users can deposit and withdraw funds freely.

 

Withdrawal Speed: Ziidi allows real-time withdrawals, ensuring instant access to funds via M-Pesa, while Mali users have reported occasional delays.

 

2. Reliability and Management

 

Mali has been plagued by technical issues and ownership conflicts between Safaricom and Genghis Capital. Some users were even migrated to Ziidi without prior notification, leading to confusion.

 

Ziidi benefits from a more structured and stable management system with licensed financial institutions, making it a safer and more reliable option.

 

 

3. Growth and Future Prospects

 

Mali’s uncertain future has led to declining user confidence, with many investors opting to shift to Ziidi.

 

Ziidi, being a new product, has quickly gained traction, with Safaricom aggressively marketing it as the go-to digital investment platform for M-Pesa users.

 

 

Which One is Better?

 

While both Mali and Ziidi offer similar financial benefits, Ziidi emerges as the better choice due to its more secure management, real-time withdrawals, and a clearer future under Safaricom’s full control. With Mali facing operational challenges and regulatory hurdles, investors looking for a hassle-free and secure digital investment might find Ziidi to be the superior option.

 

For those interested in investing, Safaricom advises users to access Ziidi via the *M-Pesa App or USSD (334#) and follow the registration steps.

 

As the battle for Kenya’s digital investment space continues, it remains to be seen whether Mali can overcome its challenges or if Ziidi will dominate the market as the preferred MMF investment option.