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In a bid to promote financial literacy among Zimbabwe’s youth, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZim) participated in the second edition of Global Money Week (GMW) schools’ financial literacy exhibition hosted by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) at their sports club in Mabelreign, Harare. The campaign, which commenced on 18 March 2024 and ran until 22 March 2024, aimed to instil financial awareness in young individuals from an early age, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours necessary for making sound financial decisions and achieving financial well-being and resilience.
GMW, an annual global awareness-raising campaign, has garnered immense significance worldwide. In Zimbabwe, the campaign is organised by National Financial Inclusion Strategy steering committee members, the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC), RBZ, and SECZim, with RBZ serving as the Secretariat. This collaborative effort emphasises the crucial role of financial education in shaping the future of the nation, led by the youth.
The Commission welcomed to their stand over 400 enthusiastic students from 37 primary and secondary schools and two universities. Many students expressed a keen interest in understanding how to pursue careers as stockbrokers and investment advisors, among other professions in the sector. They also asked questions on the risks associated with investing.
To raise awareness about and to demystify the capital market and investments among young people, SECZim employed curated creative edutainment tools to educate school children visiting their stand. The sessions kicked off with an engaging presentation by the Commission, followed by interactive activities such as word searches, quizzes, and mini-surveys. These activities not only provide a platform to gauge students’ knowledge but also ensure an immersive and informative experience for all attendees. After each session, students volunteered to summarise what they had learnt, with prizes given to those who provided the most accurate summary.
SECZim employs storytelling techniques and relatable real-life examples, including examples of small businesses being run by the families of the student, including poultry, freezit, jewellery, clothing and shoe businesses.
To promote the use of the newly unveiled Capital Market Toolkit, teachers from various schools were guided through its contents. The toolkit, which contains learning materials reviewed and approved by the Curriculum Development Unit (CDU) of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), equips educators and community resource persons to facilitate capital market discussions. Furthermore, teachers were encouraged to contact SECZim for further engagement in the Train-the-Trainer programme, to sustain financial education initiatives.
Outside GMW, SECZim continues with outreach programmes to schools, tertiary institutions, and communities.
Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZim), is a statutory body, established in terms of section 3 of the Securities and Exchange Act [Chapter 24:25], to regulate the capital markets and provide investor protection. The Commission’s main thrust is to encourage the development of a free, fair, efficient, transparent, and orderly capital market. The Commission reports directly to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. SECZim oversees over 200 capital markets intermediaries and collective investment schemes.