Online Reporter
Zimpapers Business Hub
NetOne chief executive officer Engineer Raphael Mushanawani says the Zimpapers public lecture on the Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) held yesterday has played a critical role in strengthening accountability, transparency and ethical leadership within Zimbabwe’s economic institutions.
Speaking at the inaugural Zimpapers public lecture, Eng Mushanawani said the forum helped clarify key issues around national wealth management and investment governance, while reinforcing values necessary for sustainable economic growth.
He said the lecture highlighted accountability, excellence, commitment, integrity and sustainability as core pillars for building a prosperous and secure Zimbabwe.
“The lecture has re-emphasised the tenets of national wealth creation, preservation and investment, which are central to Zimbabwe’s long-term economic transformation,” said Eng Mushanawani.
He noted that the investment culture being promoted through MIF aligns with the Government’s “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” policy, which was introduced in 2017 under the New Dispensation.
“At the centre of this lecture was a renewed focus on national wealth preservation and investment promotion, which underpinned the declaration that Zimbabwe is open for business when the New Dispensation was conceived in 2017,” he said.
Eng Mushanawani said MIF continued to drive the vision of positioning Zimbabwe as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment.
He said the public lecture reaffirmed a fundamental principle of modern governance: that accountability, transparency, excellence, commitment, integrity and sustainability form the operating system of any nation seeking durable prosperity.
The lecture was delivered by MIF chief executive officer Dr John Mangudya, who served as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe from 2014 until March 2024.
Eng Mushanawani said Dr Mangudya’s leadership reflected the direct pursuit of the vision of President Mnangagwa, aimed at positioning Zimbabwe as a magnet for foreign direct investment.
He cited recent economic indicators as evidence of progress under ongoing reforms.
“Earlier this week, ZimStat published the January 2026 inflation figures, confirming that annual inflation on the ZiG (ZimGold) index declined to 4,1 percent from 15,0 percent in December 2025,” he said.
Eng Mushanawani noted that seasonal forecasts indicated encouraging rainfall prospects between December and February, improving the outlook for agricultural yields and national food security.
He said these developments had positive implications for NetOne, Zimbabwe’s second-largest mobile network operator with more than 4,1 million subscribers, as improving economic conditions translate into rising demand for voice, data and digital financial services.
He said NetOne was rolling out practical digital inclusion initiatives across the country, including the establishment of ICT laboratories in rural schools, community ICT hubs and the expansion of 4G coverage in underserved districts.
“Through the Digitalise Zimbabwe Roving ICT Expo, the company is delivering coding programmes, digitrucks, Wi-Fi zones and digital literacy initiatives to ensure inclusive participation in the digital economy,” said Eng Mushanawani.
He further said the inflation milestone underscored the pace of financial reform and heightened expectations for all State-owned enterprises under MIF.
“State-owned enterprises must demonstrate ethical leadership, operational discipline and customer-focused service delivery.
“While performance contracts demand transparency and efficiency, the greatest performance contract remains one’s conscience.”
He said such inner accountability would anchor the opportunity-rich Zimbabwe the nation seeks to build.
The public lecture, organised by Zimpapers in partnership with the Harare Institute of Technology and MIF, was sponsored by ZESA Holdings, NetOne, AFC Insurance, AFC Leasing, CABS, POSB, TelOne, Air Zimbabwe, FBC Holdings, BDO, Petrotrade, Willowvale Motor Industries, Homelink and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of Zimbabwe.
