Zim Launches World-First Programmable Collateral-to-Fiat Platform

Zimbabwe has become the birthplace of a global financial first: Ndarama, a Zimbabwean-founded fintech platform is introducing the world’s first system that bridges programmable collateral from tokenised real-world assets directly to fiat currency via mobile money allowing users to invest from as little as USD $1 and access USD-denominated loans without ever using cryptocurrency or digital wallets. Ndarama operates in the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZIM) regulatory sandbox, where it is undergoing assessment under a Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) framework for tokenised securities. While decentralised finance platforms pioneered programmable collateral for crypto-to-crypto lending, and traditional institutions offer fiat loans without tokenisation, no platform globally has combined regulated tokenized assets, programmable collateral, and fiat loan disbursement via mobile money—until now.

Ndarama introduces a new financial primitive: programmable collateral that unlocks fiat currency. Through blockchain automation operating behind the scenes, users can invest small amountsinto tokenised real-world assets such as property, use those tokens as collateral, and receive USD loans disbursed via familiar mobile-money platforms like EcoCash and OneMoney, withoutinteracting with cryptocurrency at any point. “This isn’t crypto for crypto users,” said JP Matenga, Founder & CEO of Ndarama.

“It’s blockchain infrastructure quietly working in the background to deliver real financial utility—real dollars, real assets, real protection—through systems people already trust and understand.” Beyond innovation, Ndarama directly tackles one of the most damaging financial challenges in emerging markets: predatory lending. In Zimbabwe and similar economies, informal loan sharks often charge up to 480% APR, many microfinance institutions exceed 200% APR. As a result, Ndarama enables ethical lending at approximately 48–120% APR with no hidden fees, no penalty interest, no balloon payments, transparent and upfront terms. This represents a 50–65% reduction in borrowing costs, passed directly to users.