tupane is Zambia's Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platform, based at Chamomile Street, Salama Park, Lusaka. It lets you split purchases into 3 interest-free installments using your MTN or Airtel mobile money account. No bank account or credit history required.

How does tupane work?

Shop at a partner merchant, choose tupane at checkout, get approved in 40 seconds, and pay in 3 equal installments. The first installment is due at purchase. The remaining installments are spread over the following weeks — interest-free.

Yes. tupane operates under the Bank of Zambia Regulatory Sandbox, ensuring consumer protection and financial compliance.

Where is tupane located?

Tupane Payments Ltd is located at Chamomile Street, Salama Park, Lusaka, Zambia. You can reach us at +260 961 303 118 or via email at founders@usetupane.com.

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Legal

Credit Agreement

Last updated: 21 April 2026

This document sets out the standard terms of the consumer credit agreement formed each time you make a purchase using Tupane. Each purchase creates a separate agreement on these terms.

Pre-contractual information (required under Zambian consumer credit law)
Before completing a purchase, you will be shown: the total purchase amount, your three equal installment amounts, due dates, any applicable late payment penalty, and the name and contact details of the credit provider. This information is binding.

1. Parties

Credit Provider: Tupane Payments (“Tupane”), Chamomile Street, Salama Park, Lusaka, Zambia — operating under the Bank of Zambia Regulatory Sandbox (SI No. 79 of 2020).

Consumer: You — the individual who accepts these terms at the point of purchase.

2. Nature of the Credit

This is a consumer credit arrangement — not a loan. Tupane pays your merchant in full at time of purchase. You repay Tupane in three equal installments.

Credit type: Deferred payment / installment purchase
Number of installments: 3
Interest rate: 0% — zero interest
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 0%
Total amount repayable: Equal to the original purchase price

3. Repayment Schedule

Your three installments are due as follows:

Installment	When due	Amount
1st	At time of purchase	⅓ of purchase price
2nd	30 days after purchase	⅓ of purchase price
3rd	60 days after purchase	⅓ of purchase price

Installments are collected automatically from the MTN MoMo or Airtel Money account you registered. You will receive an SMS reminder 3 days before each due date.

4. Late Payment

Late Payment Penalty: 3% of the overdue installment — one time only.
If an installment is not received within 3 calendar days of its due date, a fixed penalty of 3% of that installment amount is charged once. This fee does not compound and does not accrue daily.

Worked example:

Purchase amount: ZMW 900.00Each installment: ZMW 300.00If 2nd installment is paid 10 days late:Penalty = 3% × ZMW 300.00 = ZMW 9.00 (one time)Total you pay for that installment: ZMW 309.00All other installments remain unchanged at ZMW 300.00

Continued non-payment beyond 30 days of the due date may result in:

Suspension of your Tupane account;
Reporting to licensed credit reference bureaus as permitted under the Banking and Financial Services Act (Cap. 387);
Referral to a debt collection agency or legal proceedings.

5. Early Repayment

You may repay any or all outstanding installments early at any time at no additional cost. Contact us at founders@usetupane.com or via the Tupane platform to arrange early repayment.

6. Right of Withdrawal (Cooling-off Period)

You have the right to withdraw from this credit agreement within 14 calendar days of the date of the agreement without giving any reason. To exercise this right, notify us in writing at founders@usetupane.com within that period.

If you withdraw, you must return the goods to the merchant (subject to the merchant's return policy) and repay any amount drawn down under the credit. Withdrawal from the credit agreement does not automatically constitute a return of goods — that is governed by the merchant's terms.

7. Default & Your Rights

You are in default if:

An installment remains unpaid for more than 30 days after its due date; or
You have provided false information to obtain credit.

Before taking any enforcement action, Tupane will send you a written notice (by SMS) giving you at least 10 business days to remedy the default. You have the right to:

Dispute the default in writing within that 10-day period;
Request a payment arrangement if you are experiencing genuine financial hardship.

8. Financial Hardship

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, contact us immediately at founders@usetupane.com. We will work with you in good faith to agree a revised repayment schedule where possible. Engaging with our hardship process will not in itself be reported to credit bureaus.

9. Merchant Disputes & Refunds

Your obligation to repay Tupane exists independently of any dispute you have with a merchant. If a merchant agrees to a refund and notifies Tupane, outstanding installments will be cancelled and any collected amounts will be refunded within 5 business days. We encourage you to notify us of any merchant dispute promptly.

10. Governing Law

This agreement is governed by the laws of the Republic of Zambia including the Banking and Financial Services Act (Cap. 387), the Consumer Protection Act, and applicable Bank of Zambia directives. Any unresolved dispute may be referred to the Bank of Zambia or the courts of Zambia.

11. Contact & Complaints

For queries, disputes, or complaints about this agreement:

Tupane Payments
Chamomile Street, Salama Park, Lusaka, Zambia
founders@usetupane.com
+260 961 303 118

We aim to resolve all complaints within 5 business days. If unsatisfied, you may escalate to the Bank of Zambia Consumer Helpdesk.