Union54, one of the leading providers of innovative digital financial solutions, and Mastercard, a global payments’ technology company, have partnered to launch social commerce platform. ChitChat is a social commerce platform developed by Union54 that enables consumers across Africa to chat with each other over an encrypted platform.

According to Union54 founder and chief executive Perseus Mlambo, the upcoming app, expected to launch in September, combines secure messaging with virtual cards linked to the US dollar. These virtual cards have been developed in collaboration with Mastercard Inc. to facilitate international transactions. Additionally, the app aims to offer a range of services including payments, gaming, dating, and food delivery. ChitChat’s card and payments features will roll out in a beta for Angola, Tanzania, and Ghana, with more markets being added this year.

The collaboration between Mastercard and ChitChat takes their partnership to a new level by integrating Mastercard’s payment capabilities and USD Debit Card features into ChitChat. This partnership aims to facilitate the issuance of cards in African markets, starting with Angola, Tanzania, and Ghana.

Union54 is an African financial technology company offering card issuing services in partnership with licensed card issuers in their respective countries. The Zambian startup has worked with clients like Barter, Eversend, GetEquity, PayDay, Vesti, Busha, Flutterwave, PayDay, Plumter, and Bitmama.