Staff Writer 
MUKURU is projecting a 500 percent increase in its MukuruPay platform usage driven by the 2025 tobacco selling season.
The financial services provider said the growth is attributed to strategic partnerships with tobacco industry players and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“In the tobacco sector, Mukuru is gaining traction through partnerships with a growing range of industry players across various scales and operating models,” Mukuru said.
“These include entities such as Premier Tobacco Auction Floors, Munakiri Leaf Tobacco, and Onhardt Tobacco, among others. This growing momentum reflects the versatility of MukuruPay and supports a projected 500 percent increase in platform usage during the 2025 season.”
Tobacco remains one of Zimbabwe’s most important economic drivers, contributing significantly to export earnings and rural livelihoods.
In 2024 alone, the country earned US$1,3 billion from raw tobacco exports, up from US$1,15 billion in the previous year, driven by strong global demand and improved growing conditions.
This year’s auction season, which began in April and will run through August, is seeing further growth due to improved rainfall, an increase in registered growers, and supportive government policies.
These include decentralised contract sales, more operational auction floors, and streamlined payment systems.
Despite these gains, several smallholder farmers remain financially excluded, facing persistent barriers such as limited access to credit, unreliable payment channels, and long delays in receiving earnings.
Mukuru is advancing financial inclusion in the agriculture sector through its MukuruPay platform, previously known as Enterprise Payments Platform.
The platform enables leaf buyers to disburse bulk funds efficiently, and together with the Mukuru Wallet, it allows smallholder farmers to receive, access, and manage their payments instantly.
“Mukuru appreciates that small-scale farmers form the backbone of Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry growth,” Mukuru enterprise sales manager Kevin Nyakotyo said.
“However, they face unique challenges that require grassroots understanding and practical solutions. MukuruPay and the Mukuru Wallet are creating a digital ecosystem that empowers farmers and enterprise partners to participate more fully and efficiently.”
The Mukuru Wallet, introduced after Mukuru’s licensing as a deposit-taking microfinance institution in Zimbabwe, also enhances access for these farmers.
“Mukuru has proven its reliability in the humanitarian and agriculture sectors alike. We support bulk payments for NGOs across Zimbabwe and Malawi and hold long-term agreements with partners such as UNICEF and IOM. In 2024, we partnered with over 60 non-profit organisations and managed aid payments for thousands of vulnerable households,” Nyakotyo said.
With over 250 Mukuru branches and booths (40 percent in rural areas) nationwide, farmers can instantly withdraw their funds, store them securely, or use them to purchase electricity, airtime, insurance, and other essential services.
“We are proud of the progress achieved through our current enterprise partnerships, which are enabling us to play a meaningful role in transforming financial access for Zimbabwe’s smallholder farmers. By combining the enterprise strength of MukuruPay with the everyday convenience of the Mukuru Wallet, we are bridging the gap between cash and digital finance, empowering smallholder farmers to participate fully and confidently in Zimbabwe’s thriving tobacco economy,” Nyakotyo said.
