Mukuru, a next-generation financial services provider, has partnered with Women in Farming and Entrepreneurship (WIFE) to deliver targeted agri-preneurship and financial inclusion to Zimbabwe's rural women.
In a bid to uplift underserved rural communities, the programme, centred on agroecological sunflower farming, will provide access to finance, agricultural training, and market linkages for rural smallholder farmers.
Mukuru, which serves more than 17 million customers across Africa, Asia and Europe, the partnership reflects its mission to drive inclusive growth where financial tools are most needed. WIFE, founded in 2020, works to advance women’s economic participation through agripreneurship and supports farmers across Zimbabwe’s rural districts.
Smallholder farmers, estimated at 1.5 million by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), form the backbone of Zimbabwe’s agriculture, yet many women remain excluded from financial services, markets, and critical training.
WIFE founder Amanda Munyoro stressed that the partnership aims to close these gaps and is a major step forward for rural women who rely on farming for survival.
“We are piloting with 30 farmers in Guruve and plan to grow to 200 women within five years. Through Mukuru’s services, especially the Mukuru Wallet, our members will gain tools that enhance their participation in the economy and improve their quality of life,” she said.
Although the project focuses on women, 20% of the beneficiaries will be men to ensure community-wide inclusion and shared growth.
A key beneficiary, 52-year-old widow Precious Hofisi, said the project offers a pathway out of the income instability rural farmers face. “Access to inputs, knowledge, and a secure market will finally allow me to support my family fully,” she said.
Mukuru’s CSI Manager Awonke Mbanga highlighted that the fintech-driven programme blends financial inclusion with grassroots agricultural empowerment.
“Our partnership is about helping rural women build resilient livelihoods and participate fully in their local economy. By combining financial tools with training, we are enabling women to grow their agribusinesses with confidence,” Mbanga stated.
The programme’s agroecological sunflower model strengthens food security while providing a viable commercial crop and supporting community self-sufficiency.
Over the next five years, WIFE plans to expand circular sunflower value-chain groups in other Zimbabwe rural areas, such as Guruve and widen capital access for 500 women in Chikomba and Zvimba, an ambition Munyoro says is achievable through the Sadc fintech giant’s continued investment in rural agripreneurship.
Share