Zimbabwean Microfinance Innovator Brings Mobile-First Credit

For many Zimbabwean borrowers, accessing credit can mean lengthy queues and paperwork; Wildfin Financial Services is working to reduce that journey to a few taps. Founded and led by CEO David Mantiziba, Wildfin is a Harare-based microfinance institution registered with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

It provides salary-backed loans to civil servants, restocking and order financing to small businesses, and electronic gadgets on credit—combining a growing branch network with digital tools to make financing faster, more convenient and better suited to customers’ needs.

Wildfin brings formal credit closer to civil servants, sole traders and small retailers that are often underserved by traditional lenders. Through its Smart Loan app and WhatsApp-based facility, customers can apply remotely, receive quicker decisions and have approved funds deposited directly into their accounts.

The company has expanded beyond Harare into cities including Chinhoyi, Kadoma, Zvishavane and Chitungwiza, while its entry into Lusaka, Zambia, marked an important step towards building a regional financial-services brand.

By combining accessible branches with mobile-first lending, Wildfin is building a hybrid platform capable of supporting household purchases, civil servants’ financial needs and the working-capital requirements of growing businesses. Its milestones include launching one of Zimbabwe’s early app-and-WhatsApp lending experiences, expanding into Zambia and developing a multi-branch footprint across two markets.

Wildfin was named the Most Innovative Institute at the 2023 Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Awards and SME of the Year at the 2025 ZNCC Mashonaland Regional Awards, while Mantiziba received the Banking and Finance Award at Forty Under 40 Africa 2026.