admin
According to the IT Governance and Cyber Security Institute executive director Dr Richard G. Young, the symposium will demystify the Zimbabwean Corporate Governance Code which provides the structure through which corporations set and pursue their objectives, while reflecting the context of the social, regulatory and market environment.
I have previously highlighted the need to implement an IT structure within the corporate world that safeguards both the organisation and the employees as a guiding principle to help steer a clear course.
Due to numerous corporate scandals of various forms which have maintained public and political interest in the regulation of corporate governance there has been renewed interest in the corporate governance practices of modern corporations, particularly in relation to accountability, since the high-profile collapse of a number of global large corporations.
Dr Young said the symposium would demystify the Zimbabwean Corporate Governance Code and show how it will deal with various issues as the country maps the way forward in a highly volatile digital age.
Among the targeted achievements, the symposium is expected to create a system of law and sound approaches by which corporations are directed and controlled.
They will be focusing on the internal and external corporate structures with the intention of monitoring the actions of management and directors, the mitigation of risks, which may stem from the misdeeds of corporate officers
The mechanism for monitoring the actions, policies and decisions of corporations, the alignment of interests among the stakeholders, the structure through which corporations set and pursue their objectives, while reflecting the context of the social, regulatory and market environment.
The topics will help in understanding rights and equitable treatment of shareholders, interests of other stakeholders, role and responsibilities of the board, integrity and ethical behaviour, disclosure and transparency amongst other topical issues that needs redress.
Among the speakers are Professor Gabriel Kabanda of the Zimbabwe Open University; Dr Gilford Hapanyengwi, head of University of Zimbabwe Computer Centre; and president of the Computer Society of Zimbabwe, Standards Association of Zimbabwe director-general Eve Gadzikwa, Canaan Dube of Zimbabwe Leadership Forum, Edward Siwela of the Institute of Directors Zimbabwe.
The speakers have identified knowledge gaps in corporate governance that can assist board members and senior management during the adoption and implementation of the new Zimbabwean “Corporate Governance Code”.
Chief among the objectives of this Corporate Governance Symposium is to assist organisations to continuously seek for ways to improve on their business process improvement, re-engineering, total quality management, strategic management, corporate citizenship, corporate social responsibility and business ethics which have become buzzwords in the contemporary business world.
The IT Governance and Cyber Security Institute promotes practical reforms in corporate governance, and is run by a board of trustees headed by Prof Kabanda, Dr Hapanyengwi and Dr Young.
Dr Richard said the institute’s mission among others is to provide assistance on corporate and IT governance, and data security.
It has three functions, which are to broaden the dialogue on corporate governance, to exchange experience and good practices to co-ordinate activities and identify and fill gaps in provision of technical assistance.
The institute also provides a convening venue for the leading players in governance in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
Its theme of partnership between the public and private sector is established through an advisory board, chaired by Dr Young, which is comprised of internationally recognised business leaders serving in an individual capacity.
Also, their IT and Corporate Governance Executive Education Programs at ITGCSI is the first of its kind in that it educates the people throughout the Sadc region who, in turn, teach corporate governance or build related curricula through a highly interactive, peer-driven programmes which includes certifications.
Different market and non-market economies take significantly different approaches to governance.
The ultimate litmus test for ITGCSI programmes is to understand these differences within the legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as the relationship between the private sector, government and measurable differences in terms of governance structures.
The bigger part of the corporate world has either been reluctant or partially ignorant of the IT governance and its statutes leading to a porous system taking charge.
Stemming out rogue traits or systems and creating a properly governed corporate takes statutes to be implemented which no one is above law for sanity to prevail.
The writer is an award-winning and Founding Editor with TechnoMag, More on Tech on www.technomag.co.zw
or join us on our Facebook page and enjoy free airtime quiz games. E-mail ictarticles[at]technomag.co.zw
Online Reporter