Showbizuganda

Tag: Malawi

  • IT’S NOT ABOUT FINDING A PERFECT PARTNER BUT MAKING YOUR PARTNER PERFECT TOGETHER – Dorothy Kingston

    IT’S NOT ABOUT FINDING A PERFECT PARTNER BUT MAKING YOUR PARTNER PERFECT TOGETHER – Dorothy Kingston

    When my husband and I started dating in 2022 many people were skeptical about our relationship. They criticized him for dating someone older with three children, while he had two of his own. I, on the other hand, was judged for dating someone younger, who wasn’t financially and socially stable. Meanwhile, he was labeled a male prostitute who was only after my wealth. People even mocked his style, saying he didn’t dress well and wore the same black shoes repeatedly.

    Despite the criticism, we chose to focus on our love and ignore the negativity. Our motto became “hear no evil, see no evil.” Over time, we’ve worked together, supporting each other and fighting our battles as a team. We’ve used our strengths to complement each other’s weaknesses, and I’ve become the wife he wanted to have while my husband has become the type of partner I always wanted.

    As Tonderai Banda said, relationships are an investment. My husband often tells me that if I hadn’t entered his life, he wouldn’t be the person he is today. Similarly, I’d be a different person without him. Our relationship has transformed us both, and we’re proud of the people we’ve become.

    Dorothy and Kingston are happily married and thriving

    In the end, it’s not about finding a perfect partner but about making your partner perfect together. Life is a journey, and so are relationships. By embracing our imperfections and working together, we’ve built a strong and loving partnership.

    We’ve learned to appreciate each other’s unique qualities and celebrate our differences. Our love has grown stronger with each passing day, and we’re grateful for the journey we’re on together.

  • Empower Tech is Transforming Cross-Border Trade for Women in Malawi

    Empower Tech is Transforming Cross-Border Trade for Women in Malawi

    Day 40 | #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi Edition

    In Malawi, informal cross-border trade is a vital economic activity, especially for women. Yet, a lack of access to trade information and financial literacy continues to hold many back. More than half of the country’s cross-border traders remain underserved, and new regulations such as the requirement for digital sales receipt submissions pose additional challenges for small traders unprepared for digital compliance.

    In response, a team of innovators has launched Empower Tech, a digital solution designed to bridge the information gap, improve financial resilience, and empower women traders in Malawi and Zambia. The platform offers users vital insights into market opportunities, trade agreements, export requirements, business registration, and COMESA’s simplified trade regime.

    “We developed Empower Tech to help traders navigate cross-border trade more effectively,” said Mary Malunga, a co-founder of the platform. “Our goal is to improve access to relevant trade data and promote inclusive participation.”

    Beyond financial literacy and market data, Empower Tech also addresses a critical but often overlooked challenge, gender-based violence. With over 80% of informal traders in Malawi being women, many of whom report harassment or abuse, the platform includes a dedicated GBV reporting tool. This feature is accessible through a mobile app and WhatsApp bot, ensuring anonymity and ease of use.

    “We wanted to provide a tool that doesn’t just support business but also protects the dignity of women traders,” added Khumbo Zimba, also from Empower Tech. “The USSD functionality ensures that even those without smartphones can access the support they need.”

    Born from the Women in FinTech Hackathon

    Empower Tech emerged from the inaugural COMESA Women in FinTech Hackathon, organized by HiPipo and the COMESA Business Council (CBC). The hackathon brought together 16 promising FinTech teams from Malawi and Zambia to ideate and build solutions that prioritize women’s inclusion.
    For the Empower Tech team, the hackathon was more than a competition it was a launchpad.

    “This experience gave us clarity on product branding, strategy, and scaling,” Malunga shared. “We also got introduced to Mojaloop, which we hadn’t heard of before. Now, we see how it can help us seamlessly integrate payments across the COMESA region.”

    Empower Tech was proudly featured on Day 40 of the #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi edition, an initiative that continues to spotlight FinTech innovation across Africa. Originally launched in East Africa, the campaign has now featured over 200 FinTechs from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda. It aims to promote financial inclusion and drive economic transformation through access to powerful tools like Mojaloop open source software, Level One Project principles, and other inclusive finance systems.
    As Empower Tech demonstrates, innovation tailored to the real needs of communities especially women can be a powerful force for economic empowerment and social change.

  • SpendSaver Empowers Malawi’s MSMEs with Real-Time Financial Reporting

    SpendSaver Empowers Malawi’s MSMEs with Real-Time Financial Reporting

    #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi Edition – Day 33

    SpendSaver, a Malawian FinTech start-up, is tackling one of the biggest barriers facing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Africa—lack of structured financial records.

    With over 70% of small businesses in Malawi operating without formal bookkeeping, many struggle to access loans, attract investors, or make informed financial decisions. This gap often leads to poor cash flow management and the early collapse of otherwise promising ventures.

    SpendSaver is changing this narrative through a user-friendly mobile platform that automates revenue and expense tracking. “Most MSMEs shy away from financial recordkeeping because of the manual process and the complexity of existing tools,” said Charity Kampanje, CEO of SpendSaver. “Our solution offers automated reports and real-time tracking, available on both a mobile app and USSD to cater to users with basic phones.”

    The platform also integrates with mobile money services, making it even more accessible for MSMEs operating in the informal sector.
    SpendSaver’s innovation was further refined during the 2025 COMESA Women in FinTech Hackathon for Zambia and Malawi, where the team received mentorship on product development, legal frameworks, and inclusive digital finance principles like those of the Level One Project.

    “We are grateful to COMESA Business Council, HiPipo, and the Gates Foundation for the invaluable training and support,” Kampanje added.
    SpendSaver featured on Day 33 of the 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative, which highlights digital innovators transforming finance across Africa.

    The initiative, now expanded to Zambia and Malawi, continues to promote financial inclusion by spotlighting scalable solutions and connecting FinTechs with resources like Level One Project guidelines, Mojaloop Open Source Software and Inclusive Finance systems, etc.

  • BroadPay building bridges to Financial Inclusion Through Local Payment Innovation

    BroadPay building bridges to Financial Inclusion Through Local Payment Innovation

    Day 32 | #40Days40FinTechs | Zambia and Malawi Edition

    BroadPay, a Zambian FinTech company, is redefining how people and businesses in Zambia handle collections, payments, and payouts.

    By digitizing financial transactions through its flagship product Lenco, BroadPay is improving convenience and accessibility for a wide range of service providers from telecoms to utility companies and internet merchants.

    Founded in 2012 by Bright Chinyundu, BroadPay began its journey by deploying self-service bill payment kiosks in shopping malls. These kiosks allowed users to pay for electricity, airtime, and TV subscriptions using cash. Over time, the company scaled its operations, eventually building a mobile app and its own payment gateway to support remote digital transactions via mobile money, cards, and bank transfers.

    “Our focus has always been on solving real-world problems,” said Chinyundu. “When we realized there were no local gateways to support mobile-based payments at scale, we built our own. That opened the door for broader financial inclusion.”

    Lenco, BroadPay’s payment gateway, now enables businesses to integrate digital payments through user-friendly APIs. This infrastructure is helping other innovators develop their solutions without having to start from scratch, contributing to a more collaborative and interoperable FinTech ecosystem in Zambia.

    But BroadPay’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Limited access to funding, low trust in digital platforms, and the population’s preference for cash over electronic money continue to be hurdles.

    Chinyundu believes ecosystem support is essential: “Beyond tech builders, we need partners like HiPipo and COMESA Business Council who can advocate, fund, and promote FinTech efforts. Initiatives like #40Days40FinTechs play a critical role in highlighting our work and connecting us to vital networks.”

    BroadPay’s story is featured on Day 32 of the #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi edition, an initiative that showcases innovations driving financial inclusion across Africa. The campaign has spotlighted over 200 FinTechs from East Africa and continues to push the boundaries of inclusive finance through platforms such as Mojaloop open source software and the Level One Project framework.

  • Trade Flow Analytics Empowers Malawi’s Informal Cross-Border Traders with Data-Driven Market Insights

    Trade Flow Analytics Empowers Malawi’s Informal Cross-Border Traders with Data-Driven Market Insights

    Day 30 | #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi Edition

    In Malawi, informal cross-border trade is a vital source of income for thousands especially women. Yet, this sector continues to face persistent challenges, particularly the lack of timely and reliable market and trade data. That’s the gap Trade Flow Analytics is determined to close.

    Founded in 2024, Trade Flow Analytics is a digital platform that equips informal cross-border traders with real-time access to crucial trade information, including foreign exchange rates, market trends, and regulatory guidelines. Available via a mobile app, the platform helps traders make informed decisions that protect them from losses and inefficiencies.

    “We’re a young FinTech start-up using data analysis to empower women cross-border traders,” said Deborah Jalakasi, Managing Director of Trade Flow Analytics. “Our goal is to provide real-time, actionable insights accessible anytime through a smartphone and internet connection.”

    Jalakasi’s motivation is rooted in personal experience. As a former cross-border trader between Malawi and South Africa, she suffered significant losses due to a lack of current market information. That frustration became the inspiration to create a tool that ensures others don’t face the same challenges.
    The Trade Flow app, downloadable from the Google Play Store, features a user-friendly dashboard with modules for forex updates, market prices, and trade regulations. Users subscribe for a small fee and gain access to curated data that empowers their trading decisions.

    The platform has already been piloted at the Mchinji/Mwami border between Malawi and Zambia, with plans to expand across more regional borders. However, like many start-ups, Trade Flow Analytics faces barriers such as limited access to updated data, digital illiteracy, internet connectivity issues, and low adoption among traders unfamiliar with smartphone technologies.

    Jalakasi is calling for broader support through initiatives like #40Days40FinTechs: “If we get financial backing, we can scale faster design outreach materials, run onboarding campaigns, and train women to use the app effectively.”

    Trade Flow Analytics’ innovative approach earned it top honors at the 2025 COMESA Women in FinTech Hackathon for Zambia and Malawi, winning $2,000 and recognition for its gender-intentional design.
    The platform was showcased on Day 30 of the #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi Edition, a continental initiative that has highlighted over 200 FinTech stories across Africa. The program continues to amplify financial inclusion and innovation by giving African FinTechs visibility, mentorship, and tools like Mojaloop open source software, Level One Project principles, and inclusive finance systems.

    Trade Flow Analytics is more than just a data tool it’s a catalyst for transforming informal trade and empowering women entrepreneurs across the region.

  • Malawi’s Pay per Coin Empowers Farmers with Precise Digital Payments

    Malawi’s Pay per Coin Empowers Farmers with Precise Digital Payments

    #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi Edition – Day 28

    In rural Malawi, where agriculture powers most livelihoods, financial losses from small payment discrepancies can significantly impact farmers and suppliers.

    Recognizing this, Ashers Foods, a value addition startup based 200km outside Lilongwe has developed Pay per Coin, a digital payment platform aimed at ensuring farmers and their partners receive full value for their money.

    According to Watupa Wyson Mtambo, Founder and Operations Manager of Ashers Foods, the platform was born out of a recurring problem: people regularly lose money when dealing with cash payments. “If someone is owed $49.20, they’re often given $50 with no change. Over time, this adds up and eats into people’s earnings,” she explains.

    Pay per Coin enables digital, local-currency transactions where exact amounts are paid and received, eliminating rounding losses. Beyond agriculture, the platform also allows users to pay bills, purchase airtime, and send or receive money making it a versatile financial tool.

    Despite its potential, the platform faces challenges including limited digital literacy, low adoption, weak internet infrastructure, and minimal funding. Watupa urges for more capacity-building and cross-border financial literacy training, particularly for farmers and small-scale traders navigating multiple currencies and payment systems across Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

    As featured on Day 28 of the #40Days40FinTechs initiative, Pay per Coin is an example of how localized digital innovations are helping bridge financial inclusion gaps in underserved communities. The initiative, led by HiPipo in partnership with the COMESA Business Council, highlights such solutions to promote equitable access to digital finance across Africa.

  • Robust365: Powering MSME Growth Through Digital Finance Solutions in Zambia

    Robust365: Powering MSME Growth Through Digital Finance Solutions in Zambia

    #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi Edition – Day 26

    In the heart of Zambia’s digital transformation, Robust365 is equipping micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with tools to manage their finances more efficiently and embrace digital payments.

    Featured on Day 26 of the #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi edition, Robust365 is proving vital in the journey toward financial inclusion.
    Founded in 2019, Robust365 offers a comprehensive financial management platform that allows MSMEs to track quotations, invoices, income, and expenses all in one place. More recently, the platform introduced a payment functionality, enabling businesses to receive payments directly into their wallets when invoices are sent out.

    Fredrick Alban, Co-founder and CTO of Robust365, explained:
    “Our system not only helps businesses manage their finances but also facilitates payments. It’s all about convenience and helping small businesses take control of their growth.”

    Currently, over 500 businesses are using the Robust365 platform. However, Alban noted a significant barrier: most MSMEs still rely on informal financial systems and are hesitant to transition to digital tools.

    “We are actively educating these businesses on the value of digital records and how it can unlock credit, market access, and efficiency,” he said.
    Technical limitations and low funding are also slowing down Zambia’s broader digital leap. Alban emphasized the need for skilled developers and greater investment in local FinTech infrastructure.

    He added that even though integrating systems like Mojaloop remains a challenge due to technical gaps, the desire to innovate is strong.
    “It’s not just about having money, it’s about having the right people to build systems that work for Africa.”
    Alban applauded the #40Days40FinTechs initiative for creating a platform to showcase and support emerging FinTechs.

    “If this program continues, many start-ups still struggling today will grow into strong, impactful ventures.”
    Robust365’s work aligns closely with the mission of the #40Days40FinTechs initiative — to spotlight innovative African FinTechs that promote financial inclusion.

    The initiative has featured over 200 success stories from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. By expanding into Zambia and Malawi, it continues to drive inclusive finance across the continent.

  • pawaPay Accelerates Financial Inclusion Through Scalable Mobile Money Solutions

    pawaPay Accelerates Financial Inclusion Through Scalable Mobile Money Solutions

    Day 24 | #40Days40FinTechs – Zambia and Malawi Edition

    As digital payments continue to shape Africa’s financial future, pawaPay is emerging as a powerful force behind seamless mobile money integration across the continent.

    With operations in at least 19 African countries, the company offers businesses a simplified, secure way to make and receive payments through a single API and centralized dashboard.

    In Malawi, pawaPay has built a solid reputation over the past three years as a reliable mobile money aggregator. By offering robust mobile money services, pawaPay empowers hundreds of merchants, including brands like BetPawa, to collect and disburse funds efficiently via digital wallets.

    “We enable our customers to deposit into their wallets and make withdrawals with ease. Our strength lies in removing friction from mobile transactions,” said Arthur Muyepa, pawaPay’s Country Manager for Malawi. “We’re licensed by the Reserve Bank of Malawi, and since our pilot phase in 2022, we’ve grown from one merchant to over 170.”

    The growth has been remarkable. In 2023 alone, pawaPay processed USD 24 million, a figure that jumped to USD 207 million in 2024 reflecting both growing demand and the company’s expanding footprint.

    Despite this progress, Muyepa points out that Malawi’s FinTech sector still faces significant hurdles, such as limited interoperability between banks and mobile money operators, as well as low mobile money penetration and collaboration.

    “Markets like Kenya are more integrated,” he noted. “Here, we still have work to do. That’s why initiatives like #40Days40FinTechs are vital. They shine a light on key issues while encouraging dialogue, capacity building, and industry cooperation.”

    pawaPay has taken a proactive role in this transformation by hosting FinTech Fridays industry forums that bring together competing players to share insights and foster strategic partnerships.

    Their participation in #40Days40FinTechs, now in its first Zambia and Malawi edition, underscores a broader goal: promoting inclusive finance and showcasing African FinTech innovation. The initiative, which has already featured over 200 stories across East Africa, continues to give visibility to scalable solutions and pioneers in digital finance.

    By supporting platforms like Mojaloop and following Level One Project principles, pawaPay is not just facilitating payments it’s helping build an interoperable and inclusive financial ecosystem that works for everyone, especially the underserved.

  • iZyane InovSolutions: Driving Last-Mile Financial Inclusion and Cross-Border Innovation

    iZyane InovSolutions: Driving Last-Mile Financial Inclusion and Cross-Border Innovation

    Across Africa, achieving true financial inclusion requires a focus on the underserved, the millions at the bottom of the economic pyramid who need digital financial services the most.

    In Zambia, iZyane InovSolutions is taking bold steps to bridge this gap, bringing innovative solutions to last-mile communities and transforming the cross-border payment space.

    Founded by Ackim Chisha and his team, iZyane InovSolutions is a dynamic FinTech start-up developing technology for banks, mobile financial services, insurance providers, and service aggregation companies. Their platforms cover mobile banking, merchant payments, digital cash management, and collections, all designed with accessibility and inclusion in mind.

    “We created solutions that allow point-of-sale terminals to accept not just card payments, but mobile money wallets too,” says Chisha. “In rural areas of Zambia and Malawi, many people don’t have bank cards but do use mobile wallets. Now, they can make transactions digitally and safely.”

    iZyane is also playing a crucial role in building the COMESA Regional Digital Retail Payments Platform — a system set to simplify merchant payments and cross-border money transfers between Malawi, Zambia, and, eventually, other COMESA countries.

    However, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Chisha cites infrastructure gaps, weak connectivity, low financial literacy, and long licensing processes as major hurdles FinTechs face. “Getting a license can take over six months,” he notes. “While regulatory diligence is important, streamlining these processes would accelerate innovation for all.”

    Recognizing the importance of platforms like #40Days40FinTechs, Chisha applauded the initiative for offering visibility and support to African FinTechs.

    iZyane InovSolutions was featured on Day 15 of the 40 Days 40 FinTechs Zambia and Malawi edition. This initiative, driven by HiPipo, continues to highlight Africa’s most transformative FinTech stories, connecting innovators with tools like the Level One Project, Mojaloop, and inclusive finance resources to unlock greater financial inclusion and economic empowerment across the continent.

  • #40Days40FinTechs Zambia & Malawi edition, Day 14: Golden Swift is Powering Financial Inclusion Through Digital Money Transfers

    #40Days40FinTechs Zambia & Malawi edition, Day 14: Golden Swift is Powering Financial Inclusion Through Digital Money Transfers

    Access to affordable, secure, and efficient money transfer services remains a major challenge for many unbanked communities in Zambia.

    Recognizing this gap, Golden Swift Money Transfer, a subsidiary of Golden Success Investments Limited, has stepped in with a digital solution designed to make financial services more accessible for everyone — anytime, anywhere.

    Founded by Alick Chali, Golden Swift is a budding FinTech start-up with a bold mission: to revolutionize the way Zambians send and receive money. “We saw how traditional banks often made remittances costly and slow, especially for cross-border transactions,” Chali shared. “Our platform is built to give users a fast, affordable, and secure option, ensuring that even those without a bank account can move money with ease.”

    Golden Swift’s user-friendly app allows individuals to send and receive funds, pay for goods, and even settle government services all through mobile devices. Powered by advanced technologies like AI and Blockchain, the platform is designed to detect fraud and ensure user security at every step.

    While the start-up is making impressive strides, Chali noted that challenges such as regulatory hurdles, limited trust in new technologies, and infrastructure gaps still stand in the way of FinTech growth in Zambia. He emphasized the need for greater support from initiatives like #40Days40FinTechs to help emerging players gain visibility, attract funding, and scale their innovations.

    Golden Swift Money Transfer was featured on Day 14 of the 40 Days 40 FinTechs initiative Zambia and Malawi edition. Following years of success across East Africa, #40Days40FinTechs continues to showcase Africa’s leading FinTech innovators, promote financial inclusion, and connect start-ups to critical resources like Level One Project guidelines, Mojaloop Open Source Software, and Inclusive Finance systems.

    By breaking down barriers to financial access, Golden Swift is not just moving money — it is helping move communities forward.

    Watch more here: https://youtu.be/8QrsauIF2UU