MiFOOD Network scholar Dr. Sean T. Sithole has published a new Balsillie Paper, Fintech, Financial Inclusion and Digital Remittances in Southern Africa. The paper examines how financial technology is transforming cross-border remittance systems in Southern Africa, with particular attention to the South Africa–Zimbabwe corridor.
Sithole explores the growing role of mobile money, e-wallets, digital platforms and other fintech innovations in making remittances faster, more affordable and more accessible for migrants and their families. The paper highlights that remittances are not only financial transfers, but also vital sources of household support, helping families meet essential needs such as food, education, health care and housing.
The paper also connects digital remittances to broader questions of financial inclusion and resilience. While fintech has created new opportunities for migrants and underserved communities, Sithole notes that challenges remain, including digital literacy gaps, documentation barriers, limited infrastructure, gender inequalities, regulatory concerns, and issues of trust and data security.
By examining both the opportunities and limitations of digital remittance systems, the paper connects closely with MiFOOD’s wider focus on migration, food security and migrant livelihoods. Sithole calls for stronger policy coordination, more inclusive financial systems, improved consumer protection, and expanded digital and financial literacy to ensure that fintech supports equitable and resilient development across Southern Africa.