Story by Tichaona Kurewa
ZIMBABWE’S digital payments ecosystem continues to gather momentum, with electronic transaction values exceeding ZiG1 trillion in the first half of 2026 as policymakers and industry leaders push for wider financial inclusion and greater adoption of digital payment platforms.
The growth was highlighted at the ZimSwitch Payment Conference, which opened in Victoria Falls on Thursday, bringing together more than 150 delegates from Government, financial institutions, payment service providers and technology companies to discuss the future of digital finance.
Opening the conference, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Deputy Director for Financial Markets Dr Josephat Mutepfa said electronic payments had recorded sustained growth, with transaction volumes surpassing 500 million during the six months ending June 30, 2026.
He said the priority had shifted from expanding payment options to improving the quality and accessibility of digital financial services.
“Our challenge therefore is no longer the availability of digital payment solutions, but continuing to ensure they are trusted, affordable, reliable, accessible and widely accepted,” Dr Mutepfa said.
“This requires addressing transaction costs, network reliability, digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness and merchant acceptance, especially among small businesses and the informal sector.”
ZimSwitch Chief Executive Officer Zabron Chilakalaka said the national payment switch had strengthened Zimbabwe’s digital payments infrastructure through investments in security, innovation and interoperability.
“As we look back, we are encouraged by the progress we have made. We improved infrastructure visibility by deploying a system for real-time monitoring of POS and ATM devices. We reinforced security through an Advanced Fraud Protection system and maintained our PCI DSS compliance,” he said.
He added that ZimSwitch had expanded online payment capabilities through mobile wallet integration while advancing interoperable QR payment systems to support low-cost digital transactions.
“We have enhanced our e-commerce platform, including the integration of mobile wallets, bringing online payments to all. We are accelerating financial inclusion through the rollout of interoperable QR payments, enabling low-cost acceptance, and we continue to deepen international and regional partnerships to scale through collaboration,” Chilakalaka said.
He also announced plans for a new headquarters designed to serve the wider payments industry.
“We are on course to deliver a home worthy of your national switch, a modern facility not only for ZimSwitch, but for the entire ecosystem, featuring a purpose-built industry auditorium where collaboration, innovation and ideas will thrive.
“This is more than an architectural landmark; it is a symbol of our confidence in the future and a demonstration of our unwavering commitment to serve this industry for generations to come.”
The conference is expected to shape strategies aimed at expanding digital payments, strengthening cybersecurity and accelerating financial inclusion as Zimbabwe continues modernising its financial services sector.
