Viyona’s African Ambition Hyderabad‑based Viyona Fintech, a technology service provider certified by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), announced on 12 October that it intends to introduce its NFC‑enabled SoftPOS solution, Viyona Tap & Pay, in Zimbabwe. The company is in talks with the Zimbabwean government to roll out a smartphone‑based payment acceptance platform that would allow small businesses to take contactless card‑and‑mobile payments without the need for dedicated point‑of‑sale (POS) hardware.
Tap & Pay: A SoftPOS Solution Viyona Tap & Pay is designed to transform compatible Android smartphones into contactless payment terminals. By eliminating the requirement for separate POS devices, the solution promises lower upfront costs for merchants, a key advantage for the country’s many small retailers. The technology is expected to integrate with local payment switches, merchant networks and acquiring banks, enabling a seamless acceptance experience.
Zimbabwe’s Payment Landscape Zimbabwe’s digital‑payment volume has already surpassed Z$200 billion in monthly electronic transactions, according to Viyona’s CEO, Ravindranath Yarlagadda. The country is actively exploring the adoption of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) technology. Viyona has reported that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is in discussions with NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) about licensing UPI for the national payments infrastructure.
Industry Context Africa’s instant‑payment ecosystem has expanded rapidly. The AfricaNenda State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems in Africa 2025 report noted that the continent processed roughly 64 billion transactions worth nearly $2 trillion in 2024, with 36 operational instant‑payment systems across 31 countries as of June 2025. Despite this growth, a gap remains between consumer and merchant adoption of digital payments, underscoring the need for merchant‑facing solutions like SoftPOS.
Next Steps While Viyona has outlined its strategy and engaged in preliminary discussions, no formal agreement, launch date or financial commitment has been announced. The company said that commercial deployment in India and selected African markets will hinge on completing necessary payment‑network certifications and obtaining regulatory approvals.
Viyona, founded in 2022, has built expertise in India’s digital‑payments ecosystem, holding certifications for UPI Switch, eKYC Setu, IMPS, eNACH and Bharat Connect. The firm aims to leverage this experience to forge partnerships with banks, payment service providers and financial institutions across Africa.
Potential Impact If successful, Viyona’s SoftPOS platform could lower the barrier to digital‑payment acceptance for thousands of small merchants in Zimbabwe and potentially other sub‑Saharan markets. By aligning with Zimbabwe’s UPI exploration, the initiative may also accelerate the country’s integration into a broader, interoperable payment network.
What to Watch - Confirmation of a formal partnership between Viyona and the Zimbabwean government. - Regulatory approvals and certification milestones for Viyona Tap & Pay in Zimbabwe. - The outcome of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s negotiations with NPCI International Payments Ltd regarding UPI licensing. - Early adoption metrics from pilot merchants in Zimbabwe, which could signal scalability across the region.
These developments will shape the pace at which SoftPOS solutions can reshape payment acceptance for small businesses across Africa.