Maxwell Bita

A Zambian entrepreneur who revolutionized mobile financial inclusion in Africa through BongaCash

Maxwell Bita is a Zambian entrepreneur and founder of BongaCash, a mobile payment platform that has transformed financial accessibility across Africa. Born in 1972 in Lusaka, Zambia, Bita's early exposure to the challenges of financial exclusion in rural areas shaped his vision for a democratized financial system. While studying computer science at the University of Zambia, he observed how lack of banking infrastructure left millions unbanked, particularly in remote regions.

In 2005, Bita launched BongaCash, a mobile money service integrated with telecom networks. Unlike traditional banks, it allowed users to send money, pay bills, and access microloans via basic mobile phones—devices already widely owned across Africa. By 2010, BongaCash had processed over $1 billion in transactions, connecting over 5 million users in Zambia alone. The platform's success inspired similar initiatives across the continent, including partnerships with Kenya's M-Pesa and Nigeria's Flutterwave.

Bita's innovation directly addressed UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating over 10,000 agent jobs in rural areas. His 2015 TED Talk How mobile money is powering Africa's future highlighted how financial inclusion drives economic empowerment. In 2018, Bita co-founded the Pan-African Financial Inclusion Network, advocating for regulatory frameworks supporting digital finance.

Despite his impact, Bita remains a relatively unknown figure globally. His work is chronicled in Africa Financial Inclusion Insights Reports, and his company's API infrastructure is now used by over 20 African nations to build national payment systems.