Zambia has completed its transition from cheque payments to real‑time digital platforms without any major challenges, the Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ) announced on Thursday.
The shift became effective after a 30 June 2026 deadline, ending the use of cheques in both public and private transactions.
BAZ chief executive Leonard Mwanza told state broadcaster ZNBC that the migration had been smooth, with no market disruptions reported across banks, businesses or government agencies.
He said the transition was supported by early preparation led by the Office of the Accountant General, which moved spending agencies – including schools and rural health centres – onto electronic payment systems ahead of the deadline.
The cheque phase‑out forms part of Zambia’s broader digital payments reform aimed at improving efficiency, reducing fraud risks and expanding access to mobile money and electronic banking services.
Authorities have spent the past two years upgrading payment infrastructure, training public‑sector users and working with financial institutions to ensure interoperability across platforms.
JN/APA