By Kelvin Sithole
Zimbabwe’s financial leaders have warned that despite more than 90% of citizens owning mobile phones, most are not using them for saving or investment. The call came at the Old Mutual 2025 Better Future Summit, held in Harare under the theme “Shifting Forward: Digital Innovation, Inclusion, Confidence.”
Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Innocent Matshe said the monetary system must reach communities still excluded from meaningful financial participation. “Confidence will grow when digital services are both accessible and meaningful,” he said.
Old Mutual Zimbabwe CEO Sam Matsekete stressed the need for businesses to create forward-looking, inclusive products. “Success will be defined by reaching underserved communities and promoting long-term savings,” he said.
Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, Tafadzwa Muguti, acknowledged lingering mistrust in the financial sector but said government is committed to rebuilding confidence through innovation and SME-focused products.
Digital economy expert Fayaz King urged that artificial intelligence and emerging technologies be designed with first-time users in mind, while Escrow Group CEO Collen Tapfumaneyi emphasised the role of data and AI in strengthening financial services.
The summit, now in its third edition, brought together government, regulators and private sector leaders to debate how to build a sustainable and inclusive economy.
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