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Tag: Malawi

  • eShandi: Powering Credit Access and Financial Empowerment Across Sub-Saharan Africa

    eShandi: Powering Credit Access and Financial Empowerment Across Sub-Saharan Africa

    #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi Edition – Day 10

    Access to credit remains a critical challenge for millions of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Africa. Without collateral, formal records, or traditional bank accounts, many entrepreneurs are locked out of the financial system—unable to secure working capital to grow their businesses.

    This is the gap eShandi set out to bridge in 2019. Born in Kitwe, Zambia, with just a team of five, eShandi began as a community-centered initiative, partnering with market leaders to provide references for underserved women traders. What started as a pilot offering small loans has since evolved into a dynamic digital financial platform.
    “We created eShandi to serve historically disadvantaged income groups—giving them access not just to credit, but also to payments, investments, and insurance services,” says Chilufya Mutale-Mwila, Co-Founder and Chief Visionary Officer.

    “Our mission is to bank the unbanked and close the $330 billion financing gap that MSMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa face.”
    With customer needs at its core, eShandi has grown into a one-stop financial ecosystem. Its digital wallet enables users to transact without a traditional bank account—offering cross-border money transfers across the SADC region through partnerships with Mastercard and the TCIB network. Collaborations with mobile money operators further extend eShandi’s reach to last-mile communities.

    Since launch, eShandi’s impact has been remarkable—scaling from fewer than 200 customers to over 1.5 million across Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Kenya. The company has disbursed more than $10 million in working capital to date, overcoming regulatory hurdles, team-building challenges, and capital constraints along the way.

    “eShandi means putting the power in your hands. Our platform brings the bank to you—digitally,” says Mutale. “We are proud of the transformation we’re driving and the lives we’re impacting.”
    She also praised the #40Days40FinTechs initiative for amplifying the voices of African innovators: “It’s a game-changer for FinTechs like us—helping us connect, collaborate, and grow.”

    Now in its fifth year, 40 Days 40 FinTechs continues to spotlight transformative financial solutions from across Africa. Following its success in East Africa, the initiative expanded into Zambia and Malawi, featuring over 200 FinTechs and reaching millions globally. Backed by the Level One Project, Mojaloop, and other inclusive finance resources, the program supports African FinTechs to innovate and scale.
    eShandi is proof that when innovation meets purpose, the result is inclusive growth and financial empowerment for all.

  • #40Days40FinTechs Zambia & Malawi Edition Day 2: Angle Dimension Driving Malawi’s Digital Financial Leap

    #40Days40FinTechs Zambia & Malawi Edition Day 2: Angle Dimension Driving Malawi’s Digital Financial Leap

    Malawi, nestled in the Great Rift Valley with a population of 22 million, is emerging as a hotspot for digital innovation. Among the players accelerating this shift is Angle Dimension, a homegrown software company that’s redefining how financial services operate in the country.

    Founded in 2011 by a team of four visionaries, Angle Dimension was built to fill a gap in locally developed, affordable, and reliable software solutions. Today, it stands tall as a key enabler of digital and financial inclusion in Malawi.

    At the core of its FinTech portfolio are two standout solutions: Aspect Financials 360 and Smart Identity. Aspect Financials 360 is already in use by 10 SACCOs and microfinance institutions—each serving up to 30,000 users. It provides both core banking functions and internet banking, enabling users to check balances, view statements, and conduct transactions digitally.

    Meanwhile, Smart Identity is helping banks and insurance companies streamline KYC, customer verification, and authentication processes—making financial interactions more secure and efficient.

    “Our solutions are making transactions digital, real-time, and paperless. This saves both time and money for users,” says Angella Shumba, Business Analyst at Angle Dimension. However, she notes that a shortage of skilled tech talent remains a challenge, which the company is tackling through bootcamps and practical training programs.

    Angle Dimension’s story is being showcased as part of the #40Days40FinTechs Zambia and Malawi edition—a regional initiative that has already spotlighted over 200 FinTechs across East and Southern Africa. The initiative, powered by HiPipo and partners, promotes financial inclusion by supporting innovation, sharing success stories, and connecting FinTechs to essential tools like Level One Project principles and Mojaloop Open Source Software.

    Malawi’s digital revolution is underway—and companies like Angle Dimension are making sure it’s inclusive and impactful.

    #40Days40FinTechs #IncludeEveryone

  • Malawi’s Tradeflow Analytics wins the Zambia/Malawi Women in FinTech Hackathon

    Malawi’s Tradeflow Analytics wins the Zambia/Malawi Women in FinTech Hackathon

    Malawian FinTech Start-up Trade Flow Analytics have been announced winners of the inaugural Zambia/Malawi Women in FinTech Hackathon, walking home with $2,000 while Mighty Fin from Zambia came second and scooped $1,000.

    Organised by HiPipo in collaboration with COMESA Business Council (CBC), the Women in FinTech Hackathon is part of HiPipo’s Include Everyone program being scaled in the COMESA region starting with Zambia and Malawi.

    Speaking at the closure of a week-long Hackathon held at Lusaka Legacy Resort, the CBC Chief Operating Officer, Dr Jonathan Pinifolo, noted that while TradeFlow Analytics were the winners, all the 16 participating teams should be proud of themselves because they all exhibited potential to develop solutions that transform lives.

    “All teams were very good and they exhibited an understanding of what we were looking for. For instance, they were all able to incorporate and integrate the Mojaloop Open source software and Level One Project Principles in their solutions,” he said.

    TradeFlow Analytics is a web solution that relies on data analysis to provide trade information to cross-border traders including available markets and foreign exchange rates. On the other hand, Mighty Fin are developing a savings and loan application called Mama Pay targeting informal women traders and small-scale businesses.

    “Our product is based on data and analytics. With the right information, we believe that informal traders can grow their business. We want to make all informal cross-border traders financially included,” noted Deborah Jalakasi, the co-founder of Data Analytics.
    “We are very excited, we didn’t expect this. We tried our best. We had two sleepless nights. We believe God has done it for us. We are still a startup. We want to do the technical implementation and make our product live,” she added.
    As a woman innovator, Deborah thanked the organisers of the Hackathon for the insightful session targeting women-led organisations and promised that they “are also going to go out there and inspire other women…improve other women.”

    Meanwhile, Vwanganji Bowa, the team leader of Mighty Fin, noted that the Hackathon has ‘tested our resilience’ and they are now focused on building a robust platform that can serve across the COMESA region.

    Both teams appreciated Comesa Business Council, HiPipo and Gates foundation for championing this event where teams were trained in various aspects such as ideation, conceptualisation and development of Minimum Viable Products.

    “We are not going back the way we came,” said Jalakasi.
    The HiPipo FinTech Events Manager Charlotte Neeza encouraged all participating teams to continue with their ideas because all of them were good enough to make it to the market.
    “We have had six teams from Malawi and ten teams from Zambia. While only two teams have been selected to take the prize money, all other teams are winners. We will continue supporting them and believe that have the capacity to become successful solutions serving people at the bottom of the pyramid,” she said.

  • Photos: Dorothy Shonga shares Christmas with Agape Orphanage Foundation

    Photos: Dorothy Shonga shares Christmas with Agape Orphanage Foundation

    Malawian socialite and businesswoman Dorothy Shonga continues to show how golden her heart is. 
    Her latest charity was sharing and spending Christmas at  Agape Orphanage Foundation in Nsundwe in Malawi alongside her team.
    Dorothy was excited to share what she has with orphanage and asked God to give her more resources and ideas to reach out to others.
    “Thank you God for all that you have blessed me with. My hands are full and my cup runneth over.
    My Team and I spent Christmas at The Agape Orphanage Foundation in Nsundwe. We had lunch here too. The children are beautiful and their care givers are doing a great job. Please pay them a visit sometime.
    May God give me more resources and ideas to reach out to others. The time I spend serving others is the time I am most fulfilled. I am a Mother to everyone,” Dorothy Shonga posted on Social Media platforms.
  • ‘We need each other, let us not give up’- Dorothy Shonga tells fellow Malawians 

    ‘We need each other, let us not give up’- Dorothy Shonga tells fellow Malawians 

    Entrepreneur and socialite Dorothy Shonga has penned an important message calling on her fellow Malawians not to give up.
    In the letter, the millionaire lady describes Malawians as people with hope and energy. She advised them not to give up.
    Dorothy Shonga
    Below is the full letter which she posted on her social media pages;
    Fellow Malawians,
    A lot has been said about me. And I have also said a lot about people who say a lot about me. But there is one thing I have discovered: we will always have something to say about each other whether u know that person or not. It’s human; let’s not be afraid of speaking out about each other whenever we feel so. We all grow through that.
    What matters, however, is that, after debates and talks about each other, let’s not break and destroy each other. Let’s continue being each other’s keeper. We are still family, we are still Malawians and we are all still part of this great creation that God gave us.
    Today, I just want to wish you a great day. If you are a businessperson, soldier on, don’t falter; if you are working, please show up and do your best; if you are unemployed, don’t give up, keep searching. God has a purpose for all of us and, I can assure, it will happen.
    We, Malawians, are a great people, full of hope and energy. Let’s not give up.
    She added,” In this journey of life, we all strive towards becoming better people than we were yesterday.However, there is no way we can become better people if we don’t learn from those who points out where we either go right or wrong. Critics are our reflection; we are able to see ourselves through their point of view and, with time, improve ourselves.

    Because of this, I am really grateful to anyone who take their precious time to comment on my posts.
    I take your comments seriously and I am always taking notes. Have a great afternoon”.

  • Jack Pemba gets special invite to attend Malawi president’s inauguration

    Jack Pemba gets special invite to attend Malawi president’s inauguration

    The list of friends in high places for socialite Jack Pemba is on the rise. The businessman now has a couple of heads of state on speed dial, the latest being Malawi’s new President Dr. Lazarus Macathy Chakwera.

    Pemba was a special guest at Mr. Chakwera’s inauguration that was held at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi on Monday July 6.

    People received a personal invitation as a special guest.

    “The Office of the President and Cabinet requests the pleasure of the company of Mr Jackson Akim Pemba to the Presidential Inauguration 2020 of His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Macathy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi and Rt. Hon. Dr. Sauloa Klaus Chilima, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi,” Pemba’s invite read.

    Pemba was accompanied by rally ace Ambrose Byona aka Omunyeeto.

    Pemba got special clearance to leave the country after undertaking a Covid-19 test at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, whose results came out negative.

  • ‘I am not abandoning Shonga name’- Dorothy Shonga

    ‘I am not abandoning Shonga name’- Dorothy Shonga

    Socialite and entrepreneur Dorothy Shonga who recently divorced her estranged hubby Herbert Shonga has said she will not quit using the name ‘Shonga’.

    While making a statement about the issue of the name on her social media platform Facebook, Dorothy said ‘Shonga’ is her brand name which cost her a lot to build.

    “Yes i have divorced Herbert Shonga but this Shonga name i use now is for my brand not Herberts. I am going to be called Shonga today, tomorrow and the next day on and on,” she said.