Phone normalization

Lenco's mobile money APIs expect a Zambian number in local 0XXXXXXXXX shape. normalize_zambian_phone() converts whatever shape a form or API client gives you to that shape:

python

from lenco.phone import normalize_zambian_phone

normalize_zambian_phone("+260966123456")  # "0966123456"
normalize_zambian_phone("260966123456")   # "0966123456"
normalize_zambian_phone("0966 123 456")   # "0966123456"

It is a standalone function. It does not use the client or the transport. You can call it wherever you collect a phone number, before the number reaches a transfers or collections call.

It rejects anything that is not a valid Zambian mobile number, including landlines:

python

normalize_zambian_phone("0211234567")  # ValueError — landline, not mobile
normalize_zambian_phone("not a phone")  # ValueError

It requires the phone extra, which wraps phonenumbers:

bash

pip install "lenco-py[phone]"

If the extra is not installed, it raises LencoError with the install command in the message, instead of an opaque ImportError.

It covers Zambia only, on purpose. There is no country= parameter. A helper for another country is a separate function, added on its own merits later — not something this function is meant to grow into.

Phone normalization ​

Phone normalization