Chronicle Reporter
GOVERNANCE professionals have been challenged to strengthen institutional trust through accountable leadership, transparency, ethical conduct and responsible decision-making, with strong institutions seen as essential for sustainable economic and social development.
Mrs Lifneth Moyo, who chaired the recent 2026 Annual Conference of the Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute in Zimbabwe (CGI Zimbabwe) hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa, said governance professionals had a critical responsibility to ensure that institutions remained accountable, effective and trusted by their stakeholders.
Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, was the guest of honour at the event, which ran under the theme: “Better Governance. Better Future.”
In her remarks, Mrs Moyo said good governance was central to how organisations made decisions, managed resources and responded to emerging risks.
“As governance professionals, accountants, directors, auditors, risk practitioners, regulators and executives, we’re more than administrators and rule interpreters. We’re custodians of institutional trust,” she said.
The conference came at a time when organisations face economic uncertainty, technological disruption, regulatory changes, sustainability pressures and rising stakeholder expectations, increasing the importance of effective governance systems.
In that regard, Mrs Moyo challenged delegates to ensure that discussions at the conference translated into practical changes within their organisations, including strengthening governance processes, improving risk management, addressing sustainability reporting and preparing for technological developments such as artificial intelligence.
She reiterated that the success of the conference should ultimately be measured by the changes professionals implemented after returning to their respective organisations.
“Better governance leads to better decisions. Better decisions build stronger institutions. Stronger institutions create greater trust, and trusted institutions provide a foundation for sustainable economic and social progress,” said Mrs Moyo.
The message resonates with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 ambition of attaining upper-middle-income economy status, which requires effective institutions, responsible leadership and sound decision-making to support sustainable development and improve livelihoods.
The conference also provided a platform for governance and accountancy professionals from different sectors and countries to exchange experiences, strengthen professional networks and explore ways of improving organisational performance and resilience.
The 2026 gathering marks the first time in the Institute’s history that its annual conference is being held outside Zimbabwe. In his speech, Prof Ncube also reinforced the role of governance professionals in building credible institutions capable of responding to changing economic conditions while safeguarding accountability, integrity and long-term sustainability.
