As businesses across Zimbabwe and the continent seek faster, more secure, and seamless financial solutions, Ecobank is positioning itself at the forefront of digital payments transformation, according to Blessed Chimbgha, Head of Payments, Cash Management, and Digital Client Access for Ecobank Zimbabwe.
In a detailed reflection on his role, Chimbgha described the bank’s payments business as the “engine room” for delivering next-generation digital platforms tailored for mining companies, corporates, and SMEs.
“At Ecobank, we treat our collective expertise as the engine room for building next-generation digital platforms for the mining and business clients to deliver world-class payment solutions,” Chimbgha said. “We operate with clear strategic alignment, forward-looking decision-making, and a constant ear to the ground on evolving client needs.”
Chimbgha leads the development of the financial infrastructure that enables secure and efficient fund flows, placing customers at the centre of every solution.
His mandate includes equipping businesses with frictionless channels for global collections and payments while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
The bank’s modern web acquiring platform functions as a “global cash register” for corporates, allowing them to receive payments from anywhere in the world. On the disbursement side, the platform ensures businesses can send funds to any destination efficiently and compliantly.
Embedded finance and cross-border expansion
Chimbgha is currently focused on expanding the bank’s collections and payments suite, with a strong emphasis on embedded finance — integrating payment, lending, and other financial services directly into non-banking platforms.
“This brings payments closer to the customers in a frictionless way, enabling growth in the use of Ecobank payment services,” he explained. “It’s about meeting clients at the point of intent, removing friction, and making Ecobank’s payment solutions the default path for growth.”
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Leveraging Ecobank’s pan-African presence across 35 markets, Chimbgha is also scaling cross-border payments. The platform creates seamless corridors that connect buyers and suppliers across borders with efficient settlement, helping sellers receive funds quickly and shorten their cash flow cycles.
Additionally, the bank has introduced digital lending and invoice discounting solutions that use real-time transaction data for instant credit scoring. Through its corporate ecosystem, Ecobank onboards anchor clients who validate supplier invoices online, unlocking working capital for suppliers.
Leadership and strategic alignment
Chimbgha leads a high-performing team that operates with agility and a strong client focus. He likens the team to a “well-run pit crew,” emphasising participative decision-making, continuous upskilling, and performance recognition.
For Chimbgha, whose background includes management accounting and global marketing, success lies in balancing financial discipline with customer-centric innovation. He noted that trust and loyalty form the foundation, while financial performance is the outcome.
These efforts are closely aligned with Ecobank’s broader “Growth, Transformation, and Return” agenda, which continues to drive the bank’s strategic direction across the continent.
