What does it take to get an e-money licence in Zimbabwe?
To hold an e-money licence in Zimbabwe, you need the Mobile Financial Services (mobile money) licence from Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Published local presence / incorporation: A mobile network operator must be licensed under the Postal and Telecommunications Act [Chapter 12:05]; every provider must obtain recognition of its payment system under s.3(1) of the National Payment Systems Act [Chapter 24:23], and comply with the conditions attached to that recognition. 7 entities currently hold an e-money licence in Zimbabwe. Full requirements — minimum capital, local presence, timeline, local ownership, fees and ongoing obligations — are set out below in each instrument's own words, with source and date; amounts are in the statute's own currency.
“E-money issuance” here is the normalized activity: Issue stored-value / electronic money redeemable at par and hold the customer float. The category of licence that lets a provider keep customers' money.
Activity id (as used by the Afriset MCP): fintech:EMONEY_ISSUE
Mobile Financial Services (mobile money)
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe| Requirement | As published | Source | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum capital | No such requirement: No minimum paid-up capital is prescribed for a mobile-money / money-transmission provider: SI 80 of 2020 sets application and annual fees, licensing conditions and civil penalties, but carries no capital floor. | Banking (Money Transmission, Mobile Banking and Mobile Money Interoperability) Regulations, 2020 — Statutory Instrument 80 of 2020 (the mobile-money / money-transmission licence frame under the National Payment Systems Act [Chapter 24:23]) | 2020-03-27 |
| Local presence / incorporation | A mobile network operator must be licensed under the Postal and Telecommunications Act [Chapter 12:05]; every provider must obtain recognition of its payment system under s.3(1) of the National Payment Systems Act [Chapter 24:23], and comply with the conditions attached to that recognition. Verbatim“(a) where they are mobile network operators be licensed in terms of the Postal and Telecommunication Act [Chapter 12:05]; (b) obtain recognition of their payment system in terms of section 3(1) of the National Payment Systems Act [Chapter 24:23] together with the application and annual fees specified in the First Schedule, and must comply with the conditions attached to that recognition and with these regulations.” | Banking (Money Transmission, Mobile Banking and Mobile Money Interoperability) Regulations, 2020 — Statutory Instrument 80 of 2020 (the mobile-money / money-transmission licence frame under the National Payment Systems Act [Chapter 24:23]) | 2020-03-27 |
| Timeline | Not officially published: SI 80 of 2020 publishes no fixed number of days within which the Reserve Bank must grant or refuse recognition / licensing. | Banking (Money Transmission, Mobile Banking and Mobile Money Interoperability) Regulations, 2020 — Statutory Instrument 80 of 2020 (the mobile-money / money-transmission licence frame under the National Payment Systems Act [Chapter 24:23]) | 2020-03-27 |
| Local ownership | No such requirement: SI 80 of 2020 sets no local-ownership or nationality requirement for a money-transmission / mobile-money provider. | Banking (Money Transmission, Mobile Banking and Mobile Money Interoperability) Regulations, 2020 — Statutory Instrument 80 of 2020 (the mobile-money / money-transmission licence frame under the National Payment Systems Act [Chapter 24:23]) | 2020-03-27 |
| Fees | A value has been located but not yet verified, so we don't publish it here. | — | — |
| Ongoing obligations | Mandatory connection to a national payment switch for interoperability of payment systems and services (as directed by the Reserve Bank by written notice). Verbatim“It shall be mandatory for every money transmission provider and mobile banking provider shall be connected to a national payment switch, as shall be directed by written notice by the Reserve Bank from time to time that enables interoperability of payments systems and services.” | Banking (Money Transmission, Mobile Banking and Mobile Money Interoperability) Regulations, 2020 — Statutory Instrument 80 of 2020 (the mobile-money / money-transmission licence frame under the National Payment Systems Act [Chapter 24:23]) | 2020-03-27 |
Requirements as published in the cited instruments — not legal or compliance advice. Capital and fees are shown in the currency the statute itself uses. Where a value is located but not yet verified, we show that it exists but don't publish the figure. Verify directly with the regulator.
Maintained: this official source is re-checked on a weekly schedule — last checked 2026-08-04 · unchanged since the previous check.
Who already holds this licence?
7 entities are on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe register under the Mobile Financial Services (mobile money) category — view the register .
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