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The Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (the SECZ) in partnership with the Investor Protection Fund (IPF) have early this year started a project dubbed ‘Ayoba Mkoba’ focusing on capital markets in Zimbabwe. The project is the production of a 13-episode audio drama series that aired on ZBC’s Radio Zimbabwe and Skyz Metro FM and is currently streaming on SECZIM’s YouTube channel.
With its seamless mixture of Shona and Ndebele, the audio series focuses on young people in a small township called Mkoba in Gweru. The main character is Tendai who is a tech-savvy and passionate aspiring entrepreneur struggling with his new family and a struggling tech project. In his journey, he meets Awilo who looks very smart and running a small profitable business. Unfortunately, Awilo is devoid of the skills he needs to invest in his profits. There comes Tasha, an enthusiast of finance with a keen interest to learn and invest in capital markets which earned her the title, ‘Miss Capital Markets’. She teaches Tendai and his family how to invest in shares to grow their wealth. Eventually, Tendai gets his breakthrough from Mr. Gumbo. This is a must-listen-to series available for free on SECZ’s YouTube platform named (SECZIM).
The series features some of the top voices such as radio personalities Perfect Hlongwane and Charlene Mangweni-Furusa. It also features Getrude Munhamo, Nothando Nobengula, and Passmore Ndlovu who plays the role of Tendai. This production comes during the global Covid-19 pandemic at a time where creative activities were stagnant due to the national lockdown. These creatives commend SECZIM for providing them with opportunities to resume their work and reengage with their followers online. In a statement, Getrude Munhamo who plays ‘Awilo’ commends that Ayoba Mkoba was an exciting project to work on.
“I was very happy to have been part of Ayoba Mkoba. The project taught me so much about financial literacy and business management through its emphasis on investing in capital markets and profiting. Most importantly, it came when we were stuck without activities during the lockdown” Munhamo says.
Perfect Hlongwane who plays the role of Mr. Moyo commends the project saying that it gave him the experience he needed as a voice artist and a communications professional. He laments the effects of Covid-19 that prompted a slowdown in the creative work.
“I really appreciate the chance I got to participate in this production. It helped me grow especially in this Covid-19 era where activities have been on hold for a while. A lot of people were stuck in their homes without projects to work on” Hlongwane comments.
Also reached for comments was the news bae Charlene Mangweni-Furusa who says that the series opened her mind to focus on the dream and not giving up.
“It helped open my eyes to the importance of not giving up on dreams and aspirations. This is looking at Tendai’s ambition that seemed impossible until the possibility of investment came into play.” Furusa explains.
According to the SECZ, the purpose of the Investor Protection Fund is to provide compensation to protected investors for losses suffered as a direct result of a licensed contributor to the fund being unable to meet their liabilities through insolvency, malpractice or other cause.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe, CEO Tafadzwa Chinamo said Investor education especially in the developing world was vital for capital markets development.
“Our philosophy is that given the complex and risky nature of securities investing, information and knowledge are essential. We do not believe in sugar-coating the subject and so we published a comprehensive handbook, Investment 101 to give investors the full story. The book which is available in audio form is downloadable from our website and social media platforms. I am glad to say investor education has been a success and over the years household investment in securities has grown from pre hyperinflation peak.” He said.
For years now, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe has been commendably instrumental in the provision of an optimal regulatory environment for the protection of investors and the sustainable development of capital markets for national economic growth while also providing investor education through different platforms like radio, television, new media among other channels of communication in the country