Zambia Goes Cashless with New Yango Payment Partnership

Getting a ride or ordering dinner in Zambia just got easier, thanks to a new partnership that lets people skip the cash and pay digitally.

Yango, a ride-hailing and food delivery platform, teamed up with Flutterwave to bring cashless payment options to Zambian users. Customers can now pay for taxi rides and meals using their bank cards, processed through Flutterwave's secure payment system.

The timing couldn't be better. Zambia's digital economy is taking off, with mobile money transactions topping $5.3 billion in March 2025 alone. More smartphones and growing trust in mobile payments are changing how people shop and pay in cities like Lusaka.

For Yango, which launched in Zambia in March 2022, the shift away from cash solves real problems. Cash-heavy operations create security risks and slow down service. Digital payments mean faster, safer transactions for both customers and drivers.

"By integrating our payment infrastructure with Yango's platform, we're empowering Zambians with secure, convenient payment options that remove friction from everyday transactions," said Iyembi Nkanza, Flutterwave's Country Head. "This is exactly the kind of innovation that drives financial inclusion forward."

The partnership puts Yango on stronger footing against competitors like Bolt and Uber, which already offer digital payment options. In a market where convenience matters, seamless payments can make the difference between a loyal customer and a lost one.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership does more than make payments easier. It helps bring more Zambians into the formal financial system, giving them access to digital tools that can improve their economic opportunities.

Zambia's e-commerce market generated $120 million in 2024, growing 10 to 15 percent as more people discover the benefits of online shopping and services. Each cashless transaction builds familiarity and trust with digital payments, creating momentum for even broader adoption.

For restaurant partners on Yango's platform, digital payments mean faster settlements and better record keeping. Delivery drivers benefit from safer operations without carrying large amounts of cash.

The country's steady march toward a digital economy creates opportunities for more partnerships like this one, where technology companies work together to solve real problems for everyday people.

Yango plans to keep expanding its features and partnerships to make services more accessible across Zambia, building on this foundation of convenient, secure digital payments.