This episode explores the strategic evolution of Lesaka as it transitions from its legacy roots into a unified, human-centric fintech ecosystem.

I am joined by Lincoln Mali, CEO: Southern Africa of Lesaka, to discuss the 'One Lesaka' Strategy — a mission to integrate major brands like Kazang, Connect, and Adumo into a single, cohesive platform serving merchants and consumers. We go behind the scenes of the landmark Bank Zero acquisition and the recent launch of the ZARU stablecoin, examining how Lesaka is leveraging modern 'rails' and blockchain technology to close the execution gap and digitize the informal economy across Southern Africa.

About the guest: Lincoln was appointed as Lesaka’s Chief Executive Officer: Southern Africa on May 1, 2021. He is a financial services executive with over 25 years in the industry. Until April 2021, he was the Head of Group Card and Payments at Standard Bank Group, having served in many different roles within that organisation since 2001. Lincoln chaired the board of directors of Diners Club South Africa until April 2021 and was a member of the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa Business Council for Visa. Besides his other qualifications, he has attended an Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and holds various diplomas in banking and management.

Qualifications: MBA (Henley Management College); LLB (Rhodes University); BA (Law and Politics) (Rhodes University).
Expertise: Strong relationships and network with key industry players in South Africa; motivational leadership style.

He is also the author of the best-selling book, Blazing a Trail: Lessons for African Leadership, which outlines his journey from student activist to corporate leader and provides a framework for ethical, human-centric leadership . All proceeds from the book support the Lincoln Mali Leadership Foundation, which focuses on youth development, school sports, and feeding schemes in informal settlements.

About Lesaka: Lesaka is a South African financial technology company delivering services to consumers (B2C) and merchants (B2B) across Southern Africa through proprietary banking and payment technologies. Their offerings include banking, lending, and insurance products for consumers, as well as cash management, bill payment, value‑added services, business funding, and card acquiring solutions for retail merchants. Founded in 1997 and strengthened by the acquisition of the Connect Group in 2022, Lesaka has entered a new era under a refreshed leadership team with international experience. The name Lesaka—meaning “kraal” in seSotho and seTswana—reflects their mission to build and protect the financial wellbeing of communities. By championing financial inclusion, they open new possibilities for underserved markets and drive meaningful fintech‑enabled solutions across Southern Africa.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are for informational and discussion purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice. Listeners should consult a qualified advisor before making any business or investment decisions.