Mobile users in Zimbabwe can borrow airtime from UK Lendme

Raphael Michilis 

UK-based and Africa-focused startup Lendme has kick-started its mobile airtime loan service in Zimbabwe. 

The platform permits subscribers to borrow credit worth up to $ 20 to top up their pay-as-you-go mobile account. Lendme promises not to charge users if the loan is paid back within seven days, and subscribers will not need to commit to a contract.  

“We don’t charge you a single cent! Just register, there are no strings attached,” the company says on its website.

The mobile credit can be paid back using a Lendme e-voucher, sold at over 500 merchants in Zimbabwe. The e-voucher denominations currently range from $ 0.25 to $ 5.00.

Lendme also plans to extend the offer of its e-voucher to lend money, so subscribers can borrow up to $ 100 to make payments on e-commerce.

  

Prior to the launch Lendme carried a user acceptance testing (beta testing) and Facebook campaign that distributed top-ups worth $10 to $ 50 to those who referred new subscribers.

“We recognise the inherent burdens airtime pre-payment inflicts on consumers hence, we have launched Lendme Airtime in Zimbabwe,” said Michael Charangwa, Lendme co-founder. 

SmartPay brings new e-payment platform to Zimbabwe

By Raphael Michilis
SmartPay has launched their new electronic payments platform Universal Electronic Payments System (UEPS) Switch in Zimbabwe, which the company claims is the first of its kind in the country.

The company says UEPS Switch is set to ease banking problems in Zimbabwe.

The UEPS Switch will enable settlement of inter-bank claims and link the payment systems of all banks, savings and loans companies, and building societies in Zimbabwe.

The platform will also serve the underbanked and unbanked segments of the country, enabling customers to load and spend e-cash, and other online transactions.

In addition, the platform is said to allow its users to make electronic payments even if they are offline.

SmartPay states on its website that “customers are able to effect transactions ‘offline’ in underdeveloped areas where power and communication infrastructure maybe lacking.”

SmartPay counts on a growing mobile market to support its business  in Zimbabwe. Mobile phone penetration rocketed from 40% in 2010 to 66% in 2011.

SmartPay also brings a biometric smartcard that provides a new and secure way to pay for goods and services throughout the country based on fingerprint identification.

The smartcards can engage in sophisticated transaction processing while offline, where security is ensured by data encryption and biometric control.

All transactions happen from the connection between a customer card and another card through a Point of Sale (POS) or an ATM. There is no minimum income requirement for individuals to acquire a SmartPay smartcards.

Users should also be able to get interest of their card balances, says the company website.

Nigeria: Upperlink launches PayChoice cashless e-solution

By Raphael Michilis published on 09/05/2012
Upperlink, an internet applications and database management company, has launched PayChoice, a software that promises to deliver clear and fast online payment to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless society project terms.


“PayChoice is integrated to work with Interswitch’s Quickteller and on all channels such as ATM’s, POS and the web, thereby making it a convenient platform for payments and collections,” said Segun Akano, managing director and CEO of Upperlink at the media presentation of the payment solution to Lagos City Polytechnic.


Akano highlighted that the solution is customiseable to meet clients’ particular requests and is lined with all Nigerian banks through available switches. The solution integrates with organisations’ in-house Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERPS) and institutional portals seamlessly, Upperlink said.


“PayChoice is an enterprise suite of payments and collections solution specifically built to address challenges being experienced by large corporate organizations, small and medium enterprise (SMEs), educational institutions and  other business entities to process outward and inward payments”, said Akano.