Western Union, Zoona and Chipper Cash launch international money transfer services
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The co-branded service enables customers in Zambia to send and receive money globally, based on their convenience and needs.
Zoona is a leading fintech and enterprise payments platform in Zambia. Acquired by Chipper Cash in 2022, the two brands now support 5 million customers across Africa. Today's announcement combines Western Union's global strength and 175 years of expertise in international money movement with Chipper Cash's and Zoona's deep local payments knowledge and innovative mobile technology platform. Chipper Cash app users can now support their loved ones by sending and receiving money seamlessly across Western Union's network of over 200 countries and territories. They also have the flexibility to send funds to mobile wallets worldwide, as well as for cash pick-up at hundreds of thousands of locations abroad. Payout to bank accounts shall be launched shortly.
'Zambia's digitally savvy population of over 20 million is driving a remarkable shift toward mobile-first financial solutions,' said Mohamed Touhami el Ouazzani, Western Union's Regional Vice President of Africa. 'Integrating our international money transfer services in the Chipper Cash app means customers can transfer funds across our global network - reliably and with ease. I am delighted then that, together, we are expanding the possibilities for Zambians to connect, transact and thrive in the global economy.'
The Chipper Cash app is available for download on both Android and iOS smartphones. To initiate a Western Union transaction, customers can use funds stored in their Chipper Cash wallet. The wallet can be conveniently topped up at multiple cash and digital payment touchpoints, including retailers, mobile network operators, banks and ATMs.
'At Zoona, we've witnessed firsthand the incredible evolution of Zambia's financial landscape—from the early days of cash-based transactions and agent networks to a thriving ecosystem of mobile and digital payments,' said Brett Magrath, CEO at Zoona and CPO at Chipper Cash. 'This partnership marks the next chapter in that journey. With smartphone adoption on the rise, there's an increasing appetite for digital financial services that move beyond USSD to deliver richer, app-based experiences. This partnership extends the reach of Zambia's vibrant fintech ecosystem—connecting more users to global financial services through a seamless digital experience.'
The collaboration builds on Western Union's well-established physical presence in Zambia that caters to diverse and fast-evolving customer needs. The move also supports Western Union's, Zoona's and Chipper Cash's shared mission to make financial services accessible to all consumers in Zambia - regardless of their banking status.
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The Independent
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BBC News
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- BBC News
Wetin to know about US travel bonds wey go affect countries wey dey overstay dia visas
Di United States don continue to tighten dia migration policies wit many visa restriction and programmes. Di new US migration program wey dem announce on Monday night, introduce bonds of up to $15,000 [N22, 868,850] for pipo wey wan travel to di US for business and tourist visas. Even though dem neva announce di countries wey e go affect, di thinking be say many African countries fit dey affected. E mean say pipo wey wan visit US go dey required to pay deposit bifor dem go get visa. Di United States dey launch di pilot program wey fit require some travelers to pay bonds of up to $15,000 to enta di country. According to di temporary final rule wey dem post for di Federal Register on Tuesday, part of di aim of di one year program na to catch visitors from oda countries wey dia history of overstaying dia visas dey high. Wetin to know about di program Di new program go start on August 20, 2025 and e go end on August 5, 2026. Di program na for pipo wey wan travel for business, entertainment and enjoyment wey need di B-1 or B-2 visas to enta di US. Pipo wey dey come from oda kontris wey also get high visa overstaying rates go dey affected. For situation wia screening and vetting information no dey enough or wey dey offer Citizenship by Investment witout a residency requirement. Di United States neva mention di names of di countries wey go dey affected but di Department of State say dem go announce di list of countries 15 days before di program go start. Di Department of State say dem dey expect around 2,000 pipo to post visa bonds wen di pilot program start, sake of di number of pipo wey dey qualified to obtain U.S. visas and "uncertainty" wey dey surround di number of pipo wey fit pay am. How much be di bonds? Di bonds get three levels, $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000. Na di consular officers go decide di amount of bonds amounts wey di applicant go pay subject to guidelines. Di amounts go dey based on di' "personal circumstances," of di travelers including dia reason for traveling, employment, income, skills and education. Travelers wey need to pay visa bond must enta and depart di U.S. through specific ports of entry, wey di US go announce later. Di US dey introduce dis program wit di main aim wey be to access di feasibility of processing and discharging bonds, wey govment bin don try to do but e hard dem. E go also help to know weda bonds fit force visitors to comply wit dia visa terms. According to di govment notice, dem also tok say di pilot program na "tool of diplomacy" wey go fit ginger foreign govments to reduce di rates wey dia citizens dey overstay and also improve dia travel screening and vetting processes. Dis pilot program get more details pass di $250 "visa integrity fee" wey dem bin announce for July. According to data, di number of pipo wey dey overstay dia visas no plenti. According to di US Congressional Research Service, only 1%-2% of non-immigrant visitors dey overstay dia visas evri year from 2016 to 2022. However, 42% of di estimate wey be 11 million pipo wey dey live for di U.S. illegally bin enta wit valid visas, but dem no gree go back. For 2019, di Department of Homeland Security bin estimate say more dan 320,000 pipo bin overstay dia visas, even though e include travelers wey later comot from di kontri, na wetin State Department visa bond notice tok. Dis no be di first time President Trump dey tok about dis program, for 2020, some African countries make di list.
Reuters
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South African grocery retailer Shoprite plans to exit Ghana and Malawi
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