Online Reporter
Nelson Gahadza
CBZ Bank has been awarded Sustainability Certification, positioning the financial institution among Zimbabwean businesses seeking to integrate sustainability into their core operations and decision-making.
The certification was granted by the International Council of Sustainability Standards for Value-Driven Financial Institutions and the European Organisation for Sustainable Development (EOSD), marking what CBZ Holdings described as a significant milestone in the bank’s sustainability journey.
In a statement, CBZ said the recognition demonstrated its commitment to making sustainability an integral part of its operations, rather than treating it as a peripheral corporate responsibility initiative.
“This achievement is not only an institutional recognition; it is a reaffirmation of the bank’s commitment to embed sustainability into the very fabric of its operations,” CBZ said.
The bank said its position within the financial sector gave it significant influence over the direction of economic activity through the allocation of capital, the support it provides to businesses, and the investments it enables.
“As a financial institution, CBZ recognises the profound influence banks have on shaping economies through the allocation of capital, the businesses they support, and the investments they enable,” the bank said.
“For CBZ Bank, sustainability cannot remain at the margins. It must be central to how it governs, how it does business, and how it creates value for its stakeholders.”
Group chief executive Mr Lawrence Nyazema said the certification strengthened the group’s commitment to responsible and sustainable growth.
“Sustainability is increasingly becoming fundamental to how we create long-term value, and this certification reinforces our responsibility to ensure that our business decisions contribute positively to our customers, communities, and the wider economy,” Mr Nyazema said.
CBZ said it had undertaken work to embed sustainability across the institution, creating a foundation from which it could leverage its financial capacity, market position, and institutional capabilities to support enterprise development and investment.
The certification comes as sustainability considerations gain increasing relevance in Zimbabwe’s corporate and financial sectors, with businesses facing growing pressure to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues alongside traditional financial performance.
For banks, the sustainability agenda extends beyond their own operational footprint to how they direct financing, manage risks, and support businesses and projects that contribute to long-term economic resilience.
CBZ said the certification should therefore be viewed as the beginning of a broader journey, rather than an end in itself.
“The true measure of this achievement will be seen in the businesses that grow stronger, the investments that become possible, the opportunities created, and the lasting value generated for our customers, communities, and the nation at large,” the bank said.
