RBZ Tightens Mobile Money Checks With Civil Registry Link
Zimbabwe’s mobile money system is set for tighter identity controls after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) completed the linking of mobile money providers to the country’s Civil Registry database.
The new arrangement gives operators access to official identity records for customer checks, allowing information supplied by mobile money users to be matched against national registration records.
What The New System Means
The Civil Registry connection is expected to make it harder for accounts to operate using questionable or inconsistent subscriber information.
Identity checks will apply both when customers are signing up for mobile money services and during subsequent Know Your Customer (KYC) reviews.
The move is part of the RBZ’s broader efforts to strengthen the integrity of the digital payments system and tackle vulnerabilities that can be exploited for fraud and other financial crimes.
RBZ Governor Dr John Mushayavanhu confirmed that the integration had been completed after operators carried out a customer verification exercise ordered earlier this year.
“Following the 2026 February Monetary Policy Statement, the Reserve Bank directed all mobile money operators to complete a customer verification exercise and submit proof of compliance by 30 June 2026,” he said.
Operators Complete Customer Checks
The central bank’s directive followed concerns over the accuracy of subscriber information held within the telecommunications and mobile financial services sector.
Mushayavanhu said operators had submitted evidence showing that they had completed the required verification process.
“All operators have since met this requirement and provided the necessary documentation.
“Pursuant to that, all mobile money wallets were rescreened in collaboration with the Civil Registry, and the Reserve Bank’s follow-up verification process was successfully concluded by 30 June 2026 with no adverse issues noted during the exercise.
“Furthermore, all mobile money providers have now been integrated with the Civil Registry system to enable customer identity verification during on-boarding and ongoing Know Your Customer (KYC) reviews.”
The RBZ will continue monitoring compliance after the completion of the exercise, according to Mushayavanhu.
Identity Gaps Had Remained A Concern
The latest intervention builds on earlier measures intended to clean up the country’s mobile subscriber records.
Operators had already been required to enforce a “one line, one wallet” policy introduced through a 2021 regulatory directive.
However, the RBZ said problems including duplicated identities, ghost lines and differences between subscriber records had continued to create risks.
Such weaknesses can make it easier for criminals to conceal their identities, commit fraud or exploit digital financial platforms to move illicit funds.
The latest integration is intended to ensure that mobile money accounts can be tied more reliably to genuine national identities.
Digital Payments Continue To Expand
The developments come against the backdrop of continued changes in the way Zimbabweans make payments.
Mushayavanhu said consumers and businesses were increasingly using alternatives such as mobile banking applications, mobile money, QR-code payments and online payment gateways.
Despite that shift, POS machines continue to play a significant role, particularly in card transactions.
“The number of POS devices in the market increased from 155 518 in February to 156 664 as at June 30, 2026,” said Mushayavanhu.
He said the continued development of both POS infrastructure and newer digital payment channels was contributing to a broader payments ecosystem offering consumers and merchants different ways to transact.
The push for stronger identity verification comes amid concerns over cyber-enabled financial crime.
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