HYDERABAD, India, October 12, 2026 : Viyona Fintech plans to enter Zimbabwe with its smartphone-based Tap & Pay platform, seeking a foothold in sub-Saharan Africa as payment providers look to expand digital transaction infrastructure across the continent.
The Indian company is in discussions with the Government of Zimbabwe over the proposed rollout, which would use near-field communication (NFC) technology to turn compatible commercial Android smartphones into contactless payment terminals.
The approach, known as software point of sale (SoftPOS), could help merchants accept contactless payments without purchasing dedicated point-of-sale devices. Viyona is targeting local acquiring banks, payment service providers and merchant networks as potential integration partners.
The proposed expansion comes as African countries invest in instant payment systems and explore new digital financial infrastructure. Viyona intends to use Zimbabwe as its initial entry point into sub-Saharan Africa before pursuing opportunities in other regional markets.
Africa’s instant payment systems processed about $2 trillion in transaction value across 64 billion transactions in 2024, according to the AfricaNenda Foundation’s State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems in Africa 2025 report. The report identified 36 live instant payment systems across 31 countries as of June 2025.
For payment technology providers, the expansion of these systems creates opportunities beyond transaction processing, including merchant acceptance tools that allow businesses to connect to digital payment networks.
Viyona Fintech Targets Zimbabwe in Bid to Tap Africa’s $2 Trillion Digital Payments Market
Viyona’s strategy focuses on that merchant-facing layer of the payments ecosystem. While national switches facilitate transaction routing and clearing, businesses also need accessible technology to accept digital payments. The company aims to address this requirement with software that uses existing smartphones rather than dedicated payment terminals.
Zimbabwe is also exploring the potential adoption of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is in negotiations with NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) over licensing UPI technology as a national payment rail.
Any adoption of UPI would be a separate development from Viyona’s proposed commercial rollout. However, the discussions reflect interest in India’s digital payments infrastructure and provide context for Viyona’s plans to offer merchant acceptance technology in the market.
Viyona is an NPCI-certified Technology Service Provider and says its experience with UPI-compliant platforms positions it to support integrations involving financial institutions and payment service providers.
“Our focus is providing scalable digital infrastructure that reduces capital expenditure for merchants,” said Ravindranath Yarlagadda, founder and chief executive officer of Viyona Fintech.
Yarlagadda identified Zimbabwe as a potential testing ground for the Tap & Pay platform before a broader regional expansion. He cited the country’s digital payment adoption and monthly electronic transaction volumes exceeding ZiG200 billion as factors behind the company’s interest.
The company’s expansion plans remain subject to payment network certifications, regulatory approvals and integration with local partners. Viyona has also indicated that commercial deployment across India and selected African markets will follow the required certification and clearance processes.
Founded in 2022 and based in Hyderabad, Viyona develops digital banking infrastructure, switch management systems and merchant payment technologies. Its certifications from the National Payments Corporation of India cover UPI Switch, eKYC Setu, IMPS, eNACH and Bharat Connect.
The planned Zimbabwe entry would give Viyona an opportunity to test its smartphone-based merchant acceptance model in a new market as it seeks to extend its payments technology beyond India.
Viyona Fintech is an Indian financial technology company established in 2022. It develops digital banking infrastructure, payment switching systems and merchant payment solutions.
