Lupiya Partners with Network International to Launch E-Commerce Enabled Debit Card in Zambia
Network International, a leading provider of digital commerce solutions across Africa and the Middle East, has announced its partnership with Zambian fintech and neobank, Lupiya, to launch a new e-commerce enabled debit card. This collaboration will equip Lupiya with advanced digital payments technology, including 3D Secure and tokenization, expanding the company’s offerings beyond simplified lending to digital payments for its growing customer base.
Dr. Reda Helal, Managing Director & Co-Head of Processing for Africa at Network International, expressed excitement about the partnership, saying, “Lupiya’s decision to choose Network as their digital payments partner highlights our ability to support financial service providers across diverse consumer segments. This partnership reinforces our goal to grow our client base and extend our services to various financial institutions in the region.”
Driving Financial Inclusion in Zambia
Zambia has made significant progress in improving financial inclusion, with access increasing from 59.3% in 2015 to 69.4% in 2020. The government aims to further raise this to 85% by 2028. However, a third of the population remains financially excluded, particularly women, who face challenges in accessing financial services from regulated institutions.
Lupiya has been instrumental in addressing this gap by offering microloans to underserved communities through its online platform. The fintech uses alternative data and machine learning to assess creditworthiness, making financial services accessible to individuals and businesses often overlooked by traditional banks. Lupiya’s efforts have notably empowered women, especially in climate-smart agriculture, where nearly 80% of Zambia’s farmers are women.
Scaling Digital Payments
Network International’s partnership with Lupiya will provide a comprehensive suite of card payment processing solutions. These will manage the entire card payment lifecycle, from issuance to settlement and dispute resolution, across both digital and physical payment channels.
Dr. Helal emphasized the importance of the collaboration, stating, “This partnership is a major milestone for us in Zambia, providing growth opportunities for Lupiya in the digital payments sector. The increasing adoption of cloud technologies positions fintechs and traditional financial institutions to drive digital innovation, enabling them to introduce new products and services quickly.”
Muchu Kaingu, CEO of Lupiya Pay, highlighted the impact of the partnership on financial inclusion, saying, “At Lupiya, we are dedicated to revolutionizing financial inclusion in Africa. Our collaboration with Network International allows us to offer secure, accessible, and innovative digital financial solutions. With the launch of our e-commerce enabled debit card featuring 3D Secure and tokenization, we are empowering more individuals and businesses to participate in the digital economy.”
This partnership marks a pivotal step in Lupiya’s mission to drive economic growth, financial independence, and digital innovation across Africa.
