Kuva has strengthened its push into fintech and payments infrastructure through a joint venture with InnBucks Bank, unveiling a new platform, InnBucks Direct, aimed at reshaping how diaspora remittances are sent to Zimbabwe and the wider Sub-Saharan African market.
The app enables instant transfers from diaspora users in the UK directly into InnBucks wallets in Zimbabwe, allowing recipients to access funds immediately through the existing InnBucks ecosystem, which is already widely used for local transactions.
For millions of Zimbabwean users, the service builds on familiar ground: money sent from abroad is credited straight into a wallet that can be used or cashed out through an extensive retail network.
InnBucks Direct is positioned around three core principles—speed, accessibility, and convenience—allowing users to send and receive money instantly while tapping into a distribution system embedded in everyday retail outlets.
Kuva CEO Andreiko Kerdemelidis said the initiative reflects a long-term approach to innovation in payments.
“Innovation in payments should not be a one-off promise; it must be sustainable, measurable, and tailored to the lived reality of customers. With InnBucks Direct, we are bringing faster transfers and dependable access through distribution network customers can trust,” he said.
The service is supported by more than 350 cash pickup points nationwide, leveraging a broad retail footprint that includes Simbisa Brands outlets such as Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn and Bakers Inn, as well as Steers, Pick n Pay, Edgars, Jet Stores and Profarmer outlets.
Several pickup locations operate extended hours, with some open until 8pm and others running 24 hours, improving accessibility for recipients who may not be able to collect funds during standard business hours.
- Witnesses receive 260 hand-washing units
- Feature: Zim wants aviation competition to boost travel
- Witnesses resume in-person assemblies
- Matobo miner seeks to interdict ‘invaders’
Keep Reading
Kuva Project Consultant Nqobani Moyo said the platform was designed to solve practical remittance challenges rather than simply introduce new technology.
“Instant UK-to-wallet transfers, low-cost sending and a wide pickup footprint are all aimed at making the service useful, sustainable and convenient for Zimbabweans,” he said.
For diaspora users, the value proposition is reduced transfer time and easier access for recipients. For the broader financial ecosystem, the venture underscores a shift in remittances toward integrated, retail-driven cash distribution models.
Kuva and InnBucks also indicated plans to expand the model across other Sub-Saharan African markets where Simbisa Brands operates, targeting a regional remittance landscape estimated to exceed US$54 billion annually.
The partnership signals a strategic bet on scalable fintech infrastructure, positioning InnBucks Direct as more than a remittance app—rather, a potential backbone for cross-border retail payments in the region.
