MARTIN MAWAYA
MOSI OA TUNYA-THE Zimbabwe Association of Microfinance Institutions (ZAMFI), in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Microfinance Fund (ZMF), will in August convene a high-level winter school in Victoria Falls aimed at repositioning the country’s sector amid growing economic volatility and rapid digital transformation.
The three-day gathering, scheduled for August 19 to 21 at Elephant Hills Hotel, comes at a time when microfinance institutions are under pressure to deepen financial inclusion, strengthen sustainability and embrace fintech-driven solutions in a challenging operating environment.
Running under the theme “Microfinance 2.0: Sustainably Leveraging on Regional Experiences,” the forum is expected to draw chief executive officers, senior financial sector executives, policymakers and regulators from across the country and the region.
ZAMFI chief executive officer, Godfrey Chitambo told The Midweek Watch that the winter school would provide a strategic platform for industry leaders to “reflect, re-align and re-imagine” the future of Zimbabwe’s microfinance sector.
Chitambo added that, deliberations will focus on strengthening institutional sustainability, promoting responsible lending, enhancing risk management systems and accelerating digital transformation within the sector.
The conference also seeks to drive a transition from traditional poverty alleviation models towards sustainable wealth creation, reflecting growing calls for microfinance institutions to play a broader developmental role in the economy.
Industry experts say Zimbabwe’s microfinance sector has become a critical pillar for small businesses and low-income earners who often struggle to access conventional bank financing.
However, the sector continues to grapple with inflationary pressures, high default risks and regulatory compliance challenges, forcing operators to rethink business models and adopt technology based financial services.
ZAMFI said the winter school would facilitate real-time interaction between industry players, policymakers and regulators, while also creating room for knowledge sharing and innovative discussions around the future of financial inclusion.
They added that the Victoria Falls setting was deliberately chosen to provide “a serene, world-class environment” for executives to strategize on transformative solutions for the sector.
