EcoCash Expands Global Partnerships to Boost International Remittances

EcoCash, Zimbabwe’s leading financial technology platform, is ramping up its efforts to grow international remittance inflows by establishing new partnerships with global payment service providers.

Owned by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, the mobile money service already collaborates with major international remittance brands, including Sasai Money Transfer, Western Union, WorldRemit, MamaMoney, MoneyGram, Remitly, Shoprite Send, and Terrapay.

With over 40 partners currently integrated into its mobile wallet system, EcoCash has confirmed that it is actively engaging with additional global players. The move is part of a broader vision to build a comprehensive international payments network.

“Our focus remains on adding more partners to create a global platform that delivers value, affordability, and convenience for our users,” the company stated during the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) Winter School 2025 and Investment Conference held in the UK.

The event highlighted Zimbabwe’s investment potential, showcasing its promising sectors, deal opportunities, and attracting global capital. It also provided a platform for connecting diaspora communities and global investors with meaningful projects back home.

EcoCash’s initiative comes at a time when remittances are playing a pivotal role in sustaining Zimbabwe’s economy. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) reported that diaspora remittances exceeded US$2 billion in 2024, solidifying their role as a key and dependable source of foreign currency.

Experts believe EcoCash’s global expansion is both timely and strategic, enhancing the ability of Zimbabweans abroad to send money home efficiently, securely, and cost-effectively. The platform offers zero fees for withdrawing remitted funds and operates through an extensive nationwide network of more than 60,000 agents and merchants in both urban and rural locations.

In 2024, EcoCash saw its transaction volumes grow by 21%, with a remarkable 210% rise in transaction values — a trend attributed to higher wallet usage and growing customer trust.

The company noted that remittances now go beyond basic household needs like food, school fees, and healthcare. Increasingly, they are supporting entrepreneurship, small business expansion, and local development initiatives. Reliable digital payment solutions, EcoCash emphasized, are helping both rural and urban users to transact, save, and invest without the limitations of cash-based systems.

Financial analysts point out that promoting the use of formal remittance channels improves financial inclusion, reduces reliance on informal networks, and enhances consumer safety.

With Zimbabwe’s diaspora spread across countries like South Africa, the UK, the US, and Australia, EcoCash’s strategy to grow its partner network is expected to reinforce its dominant position in the mobile money market.

“Our mission is to enable Zimbabweans abroad to support their families with ease while ensuring that recipients at home enjoy secure, transparent, and seamless access to those funds – whether for daily needs or future investments,” the company said.

Also featured at the ICAZ Winter School 2025 was RemitHope, a fintech-driven social enterprise that works to fund under-resourced African-led community initiatives. The organization partners with EcoCash to channel remittances into impactful projects across the continent.