Financial services group ZB Financial Holdings (ZBFH) has launched two digital platforms Smile Cash and Smile&Pay as part of its strategy to expand financial inclusion and modernise payment systems across Zimbabwe.
Described as a twin digital solution, Smile Cash is a mobile wallet that enables users to transact via app or USSD, offering banking, insurance, and investment services in one platform.
To complement it, the group unveiled Smile&Pay, a secure and seamless payment gateway aimed at transforming local e-commerce and business transactions
To complement it, the group unveiled Smile&Pay, a secure and seamless payment gateway aimed at transforming local e-commerce and business transactions
“We are thrilled to introduce Smile Cash, a digital wallet platform that allows you to transact via your mobile whether app or USSD,” ZB chief transformation officer Kangai Maukazuva said during the products launch in Harare on Wednesday.
“This is what I’m calling a twin digital solution in the payments industry.We have created a wallet Smile Cash and an integrated payment gateway, Smile&Pay," he added.
The products are fully integrated with Visa, Mastercard, SWIFT, and regional systems, allowing for cross-border payments, real-time transaction processing, and global reach.
“With the ZB product, which is Smile Cash, you are able to request for a payment from anyone, wherever they are even if they are on EcoCash, or even if they don’t have a wallet. If they’ve got their card, they are able to pay you using their card. Not just in Zimbabwe, but globally,” he said.
- Shareholders approve ZW$1.5bn dividend
- ZB offers to buy out Masholds minorities
- Good times roll for ZB’s high net worth clients
- ZB in massive shake-up
Keep Reading
The platforms, developed in-house by ZB technologists, aim to offer a locally built, cost-effective alternative to foreign fintech solutions, which are often priced beyond reach for many Zimbabweans
“We’ve studied what the market is offering in terms of wallets and gateways and realised we needed to develop something made in Zimbabwe,” Maukazuva said.
“Most players are expensive because of licensing and tech costs but we’ve developed this to be affordable.”
ZB is also offering white-label wallet services to businesses wanting to create branded wallets for their customers. The wallet supports multi-currency functionality, loyalty rewards, budgeting tools, and integrates with existing ZBFH services.
“In terms of e-commerce, the payment gateways available are not good enough and are expensive. But now you can sell your products through Smile&Pay,” he added
The group said the launch marks the beginning of a broader digital transformation, with additional innovations — including international acquiring products — set to roll out in the coming weeks.
“We are not stopping here. We still have a lot to launch.”
