SECZim Expands Youth Financial Literacy Campaign

Witness Runodada – Zim Now Reporter

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with key financial regulators, led an impactful financial literacy campaign during Global Money Week 2025, reaching thousands of students and teachers across Zimbabwe.

Under the global theme “Think Before You Follow, Wise Money Tomorrow,” the initiative saw SECZim partner with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Insurance and Pensions Commission, Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority, and the Deposit Protection Corporation.

The coordinated outreach began in Matabeleland North, covering schools in Tsholotsho, Hwange, and Lupane from March 3 to 7. It later moved to Harare from March 17 to 21, culminating in an interactive exhibition at the RBZ Sports Club. The campaign reached a total of 8,580 students and 413 teachers nationwide.

In Harare alone, 481 students and 33 teachers took part in the exhibition, where students engaged directly with regulators through interactive learning experiences.

“During my visit to the SECZim stand, I learned a key lesson from the Global Money Week theme: ‘Think Before You Follow, Wise Money Tomorrow.’ It taught me to avoid blindly following trends, peer pressure, risky investments, get-rich-quick schemes, and impulsive spending,” said one student. “As SECZim advised, a wise young person makes informed decisions today for a secure financial future.”

The 2025 campaign marked the largest outreach effort to date, with participation figures significantly surpassing previous years. In 2023, the initiative reached 2,004 students and 20 teachers in Matabeleland South and Harare. This grew in 2024 to 2,294 students and 80 teachers in Masvingo and Harare. This year’s reach represented a 274% increase in student engagement and a 416% increase in teacher participation compared to 2024.

On March 21, SECZim also participated in the CEO’s Roundtable, delivering a presentation titled “Technology Adoption in the Capital Markets: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Direction.” The Commission underscored the importance of real-time data and analytics in promoting transparency and building trust in Zimbabwe’s capital markets.

Looking forward, SECZim plans to expand its financial education efforts through its #MySchool campaign, a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative aimed at encouraging alumni and corporates to support financial literacy in their former schools. Outreach activities are scheduled to continue in Mashonaland Central and Midlands provinces in May 2025.

“This campaign aligns with our mandate to promote investor education, market integrity, and financial resilience,” said Farai Mpofu, SECZim’s Investor Education and Public Relations Manager.