By HELEN ZULU –
ZOONA Zambia, an electronic money transfer firm, has processed close to nine million customer transactions in Zambia and Malawi amounting to K3 billion.
Zoona communication and public relations manager Karim Amade said last year,  the company processed close to nine million customer transactions in  Zambia and Malawi amounting to K3 billion which exceeded the company’s  targets.
Mr Amade said over half a million transactions were processed over the festive season alone.
He was speaking in an interview in Lusaka on Friday.
“Worldwide, there has been increased focus on building financial inclusion and in extending financial services to areas where other alternatives are limited.
“Zoona is proud to be at the forefront of this drive and as of December, last year, we successfully processed close to nine million customer transactions which exceeded our targets,” Mr Amade said.
He said the company also managed to expand its reach in rural areas with over 1,300 outlets operational across Zambia despite the difficult market environment and Kwacha depreciation.
Mr Amade said the company was targeting to be processing K150 million per month by the end of first quarter of this year.
He said the company was currently developing plans that would see it enter Mozambique and Ghana markets during the course of this year.
“We remain focused on our long-term goal of being the most trusted financial brand in five African markets by 2020. In 2016 we hope to continue our growth, both in Zambia and abroad. Within Zambia, we have a number of initiatives planned that will provide a better and simpler experience for our customers,” Mr Amade said.
Zoona is a money transfer company founded in Zambia in 2009 which operates through a network of agents who are entrepreneurs in their own right and has over 1,300 outlets across Zambia, and a further 400  in Malawi.
Zoona services one million customers every 60 days, who send and receive over K100 million on a monthly basis.