Online Reporter
Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s capital markets recorded value gains in the first quarter of 2026, after market capitalisation across the country’s three exchanges surged by 51.1 percent to US$8,58 billion, driven by improved macroeconomic conditions and growing investor confidence.
Zimbabwe’s economy has stabilised significantly, marked by strong GDP growth, record export revenues and improved food security.
Further, price and exchange rate volatility have eased and the country is actively working on long-term debt restructuring and re-engagement with the international community.
The strong performance came despite the high-profile delisting of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, signalling resilience across the broader investment market.
According to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZim) Acting chief executive officer, Mr Tichaona Mushambadope, the first quarter marked an important milestone for Zimbabwe’s capital markets, reflecting stronger participation by investors and improving market fundamentals.
He said combined market capitalisation across the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, Victoria Falls Stock Exchange and Financial Securities Exchange climbed to US$8,58 billion during the period.
The VFEX All Share Index advanced 41,07 percent, while the ZSE All Share Index rose 29,04 percent, highlighting robust performances across both exchanges.
“The first quarter of 2026 marked an important milestone for Zimbabwe’s capital market, demonstrating growing momentum across the investment ecosystem on the back of improved macroeconomic fundamentals,” Mr Mushambadope said in the regulator’s quarterly report.
SECZim plans to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies to modernise market regulation and supervision as global capital markets increasingly embrace artificial intelligence, digital assets, tokenisation and financial technology.
He said the commission was implementing Regulatory Technology (RegTech) and Supervisory Technology (SupTech) to automate regulatory reporting, strengthen market surveillance, enhance risk-based supervision and leverage artificial intelligence to improve regulatory effectiveness.
The regulator also intends to expand the range of investment products available to both issuers and investors.
Mr Mushambadope said SECZim was supporting the development of sustainable finance instruments, climate finance products, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), venture capital, tokenised securities and appropriately regulated virtual asset markets.
He said these instruments would help mobilise long-term capital towards infrastructure, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, housing, renewable energy and other productive sectors of the economy.
Beyond product innovation, the commission is prioritising investor education through establishing the Capital Markets Institute aimed at strengthening financial literacy, professional capacity and responsible investing.
Mr Mushambadope said well-informed investors were critical to building resilient, transparent and efficient capital markets.
He added that SECZim would continue focusing on digital transformation, sustainable finance and deeper integration into African capital markets, working with Government, industry players, investors, academia and development partners to develop globally competitive capital markets capable of mobilising long-term investment, supporting Vision 2030 and driving inclusive economic growth.
