On today's episode of the Techpoint Africa Podcast, our hosts, Oluwanifemi Kolawole and Chimgozirim Nwokoma discuss African tech stories making the waves this week.
The podcast dives into the most recent happenings and trends in African technology, offering thoughtful analysis and commentary on the week’s stories.
A major highlight centers around the slightly over six-month detention of a Binance executive in Nigeria. Binance has raised serious concerns about the treatment of its executive, Tigran Gambaryan, who is currently still detained in Nigeria. The company’s worry came after a recent court session where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disputed claims about Gambaryan's deteriorating health.
On September 2, 2024, in a hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the EFCC’s lead counsel argued that Gambaryan’s condition isn’t as critical as his family and lawyer have reported. They noted that despite his long-standing herniated disc issue, he was seen walking around the detention facility. However, Binance insists that partial medical records suggest he needs urgent surgery. The handing question is, when will Binance X Nigeria saga end?
Moving to the next story, ChitChat, a Zambian social commerce app, is partnering with Mastercard to launch virtual debit cards that simplify cross-border payments. This came after the shutdown of Union54, due to the fraud issues they faced.
The new virtual cards enable instant in-app transactions, allowing users to manage funds in multiple currencies and avoid traditional banking hassles. ChitChat, available in Zambia, Ghana, Tanzania, and Angola, plans to expand to over 30 countries by the end of the year. The platform confirmed a move to expand remittances to China, India, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
This partnership aims to boost financial inclusion and streamline global transactions, positioning ChitChat to contribute significantly to Africa’s growing eCommerce market, projected to reach $75 billion by 2025.
You can catch up on the conversation on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere you get your podcasts. You can also send your questions and observations to podcast@techpoint.africa or share your thoughts using the hashtag #TechpointAfricaPodcast.
