EcoCash is the wallet almost every Zimbabwean already carries, which makes it the fastest way to get paid online. This guide walks through the three ways to accept it, what each one is good for, what it costs, and how the money reaches your bank.
The three ways to accept EcoCash
You don’t need a website or a developer to start. Pick the option that matches how you sell.
1. A payment link (no website, no code)
The quickest way to get paid. You create a link in your dashboard, set the amount (or leave it open), and send it to the customer on WhatsApp, SMS or email. They open it, choose EcoCash, and approve the prompt on their phone. You both see the result.
Payment links are ideal for invoices, deposits, and one-off sales. Make a link single-use for an invoice, or reusable so the same link collects for the same product again and again.
2. A QR code at the counter
Print the QR code that comes with a payment link and stick it on the counter or a poster. The customer scans it with their phone, sees the amount, and pays with EcoCash. No card machine, no cash to break.
3. The API (EcoCash inside your own checkout)
When you have your own website or app, one API call creates the charge and one webhook tells you when it resolves. Idempotency keys make retries safe, and a signed webhook signature means your system can trust the result. This is the same engine the link and QR code use — you’re just driving it yourself.
Step by step with Lango
- Register for a Lango account and get your sandbox keys immediately — test the whole flow before a cent moves.
- Create a payment link in the dashboard, or drop the hosted checkout onto your site.
- Share it — WhatsApp, a QR code, or a button on your page.
- Your customer chooses EcoCash and approves the prompt on their phone.
- The payment resolves honestly — completed, declined, or, if the network is still deciding, held as unknown until the answer arrives (never falsely marked “failed”).
- Funds settle to your bank on your cycle, with an advice that names every payment and deduction.
What it costs
A flat rate on what you collect — commission, IMTT and the transfer fee — and with Lango every charge is previewed to the cent before the customer confirms. There’s no setup fee, no monthly fee, and never a cut of your cash sales. You choose whether to absorb the fee or pass it to the customer at checkout.
Why “unknown” matters
Mobile-money networks time out. A weaker gateway marks a slow payment “failed”, the customer pays again, and now they’ve been charged twice. Lango holds an undecided payment as unknown and keeps checking with the provider until it truly resolves — so you never write off a real sale early, and no customer double-pays.
Frequently asked
Do I need a merchant website? No — a payment link on WhatsApp is enough to start.
How fast do I get the money? On your settlement cycle, transferred to your bank with a line-by-line advice.
Can I refund an EcoCash payment? Yes, from the dashboard or the API; the books move in reverse, in the open.
Ready to take your first EcoCash payment? Create a free account or read more about accepting EcoCash.