Mukuru’s Awarding of Deposit-Taking Microfinance Institution (DTMFI) Licence – a Boost for Financial Inclusion in Zimbabwe

• Mukuru to drive adoption of digital financial solutions with support of its extensive booth and agent network
• DTMFI license to amplify Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Inclusion Strategy
• Cost reduction benefits to be felt by SMEs, women, youth and rural communities

Next-generation financial services provider Mukuru (www.Mukuru.com) has been awarded a Deposit-Taking Microfinance Institution (DTMFI) licence in Zimbabwe. This important achievement enables Mukuru to expand on its mission of driving financial inclusion in the country, especially among underserved groups such as SMEs, people with disabilities, women, youth and rural communities.

Mukuru’s Group CEO Andy Jury says being awarded the DTMFI licence is a significant milestone for Mukuru because its mission aligns perfectly with Zimbabwe’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy, which is spearheaded by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. “We are excited to leverage our extensive network and digital capabilities to further empower underserved communities – particularly SMEs, women, youth, people with disabilities and rural populations – and drive greater financial inclusion across the country.”

Jury says Mukuru is uniquely positioned to bridge the gaps between formal and informal financial services in Zimbabwe by unlocking new economic opportunities through the provision of innovative financial products that enable people to send, store, spend and potentially borrow with ease. “Relevant financial inclusion depends on the uptake of products and services. To this end, Mukuru’s trusted brand and reputation as a reliable financial services provider is expected to support the building of customer trust and drive the adoption of digital offerings,” explains Jury.

Financial inclusion in Zimbabwe is at its lowest in rural areas, where 63% of the population lives. Mukuru, which has been part of Zimbabwe’s financial services landscape for the past 20 years, serves over three million loyal customers. Its trusted and extensive network, with digital capabilities, has 250 owned access points, with 40% of these in rural areas. In addition to this, it has more than 500 partner access points available across the country.

Mukuru Zimbabwe Financial Services CEO Doug Tait-Knight says meaningful financial inclusion uplifts communities by enabling them to access financial services and enter the mainstream economy.

“DTMFI service offerings cut out travel costs and enhance secure and inclusive practices as money does not need to be collected. Currently, more than 90% of people who receive remittances cash them out and so we are well-positioned now to help them along their digital financial inclusion journeys. Our DTMFI licence will enable us to deliver innovative digital solutions that address the specific needs of our customers, from those in wheelchairs who struggle to access cash from ATMS, to small business owners seeking to grow their enterprises. We are delighted that our strategy aligns with the national financial inclusion strategy,” he says.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mukuru.

Media Enquiries:
Kgomotso Hlakudi
kgomotso.hlakudi@mukuru.com
(+27) 73 333 1672

Mthokozisi Dube
mtho.dube@lalataucomms.co.za
(+27) 81 790 2070

Ammaarah Kootbodien
ammaarah@duomarketing.co.za
(+27) 71 529 6449

Notes to Editor:
Mukuru is a leading next generation financial services platform in Southern Africa that offers affordable and reliable financial services to a customer base of over 17 million  across Africa, Asia and Europe.

With over 100 million transactions to date, our core was built providing international money transfers and from this base, we’ve developed a set of services to address the broader financial needs of our customers. We now operate in over 60 countries and across over 500 remittance corridors.

We are a business that puts the customer at the centre of everything we do, and for that reason, we serve clients across physical and digital channels, by various payment methods (cash, card, wallet) as well as a range of engagement platforms including WhatsApp, USSD, contact centre, App, website, agents and a branch and booth network.

Mukuru has, for the fifth consecutive year, been listed as one of the top 100 Cross Border Payments businesses in the world in the 2024 FXC Intelligence Top 100 Cross-Border Payment Companies (https://apo-opa.co/3DonDyI), one of only six African companies to receive this accolade.

In 2023, Mukuru officially ranked sixth on the LinkedIn Top Companies List in South Africa.

Mukuru was celebrated for innovation and excellence at the 2023 Africa Tech Festival Awards, receiving the Fintech Innovation of the Year Award – an acknowledgment of the transformative power of financial technology in driving economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation.

In 2024, Mukuru won the IAMTN Payments Network Customers Experience Excellence Award  for setting a high bar in exceptional customer satisfaction in cross-border payment services. Additionally, Mukuru  was officially accredited as a 2024 Top Employer in South Africa by the Top Employers Institute.

Further information can be found at www.Mukuru.com.