By Melody Korongwe
Zimbabwe’s leading fintech platform, EcoCash, has broadened its service portfolio with the launch of a new international money transfer feature, enabling customers to send funds from Zimbabwe to numerous countries.
This development marks a significant evolution for EcoCash, transitioning from a primarily inbound remittance service to one that now facilitates seamless outbound transfers across the globe.
In an official statement released on May 14th, 2025, EcoCash announced that its users can now send money to a wide array of destinations, including South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, the DRC, Ghana, Lesotho, Uganda, and even China via Alipay.
The company emphasized that this new service provides a swift, secure, and cost-effective solution for various financial needs, ranging from educational and medical expenses to business transactions.
The platform allows EcoCash users to send money directly to recipients’ bank accounts or mobile wallets. As an example, the statement highlighted that a customer in Zimbabwe can now directly transfer funds to a Safaricom Mpesa wallet in Kenya.
Furthermore, all South African banks have already been integrated into the service, with plans to incorporate more countries across Europe and Asia in the near future.
This initiative addresses the evolving needs of EcoCash’s customer base, particularly given Zimbabwe’s substantial diaspora population. While inbound remittances have long been crucial for families in the country, the flow of funds is increasingly bidirectional.
Many Zimbabweans require the ability to pay school fees for children studying abroad or settle invoices with international suppliers.
Additionally, individuals frequently need to cover emergency travel and healthcare costs for themselves or their families in other countries.
EcoCash’s entry into the outbound money transfer market is poised to disrupt traditional services that often necessitate physical agent visits for cash pick-ups.
The fintech platform’s digital-first approach, offering direct transfers to bank accounts and mobile wallets, eliminates these hurdles, providing enhanced convenience, speed, and cost efficiency for both senders and recipients.
To utilize this new service, EcoCash advises customers to dial *151#, navigate to “Diaspora Services,” select “International Money Transfer,” and follow the straightforward prompts to send money directly to a mobile wallet or bank account in the desired country.
This launch signifies EcoCash’s commitment to meeting the evolving financial needs of its users and further solidifies its position as a leading fintech innovator in Zimbabwe.
