Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are widely regarded as the backbone of the national economy, require strong support from governance and accountancy professionals to thrive.
This was revealed by the Chartered Governance and Accountability Institute of Zimbabwe (CGI Zimbabwe) during the institute’s two-day Summer School in Bulawayo last week.
CGI Zimbabwe vice-president, Mrs Lifmeth Moyo, said governance and accountancy practitioners should embrace their responsibility as agents of resilience and transformation, not only within established institutions but across the wider economy.
“This Summer School is not merely a tradition — it is a movement. It is a reflection of our shared commitment to excellence, professionalism and resilience in a world that is constantly changing,” Mrs Moyo said.
She said this year’s theme, “Upskilling Governance and Accountancy Professionals for Enhanced Organisational Resilience,” spoke to both institutional needs and personal responsibility.
“As CGI Zimbabwe, we are clear about our mission: to raise a generation of governance and accountancy professionals, who are not just qualified, but who are courageous, competent and compassionate. Professionals who understand that their knowledge is not for personal elevation alone, but for national transformation. This Summer School is designed with that mission at heart,” she added.
Mrs Moyo described the students attending the summer school as the future of the profession adding “You are the heartbeat of this Institute.”
“It is for you that we continue to innovate, to develop relevant programmes, and to create platforms such as this to equip you beyond the classroom. But this gathering also brings together members, non-members, aspiring professionals, and thought leaders from across the country.
“It is all-encompassing, because the responsibility to build resilient professionals belongs to all of us.”
Turning to SMEs, Mrs Moyo emphasised on their centrality to economic growth, while stressing the importance of professional guidance to ensure their sustainability.
“These businesses form the backbone of our economy. They are dynamic, determined and filled with potential — yet too often, they operate without the governance and financial management systems that allow them to thrive sustainably.
“This is not because they lack drive, but because they often lack access to professional support. That’s where each of you comes in,” she told delegates.
Mrs Moyo challenged professionals to extend their expertise beyond boardrooms into grassroots enterprises where the potential for national transformation was greatest.
“I envision a future where our students and members walk into those small enterprises and become the difference between failure and growth — where your skills are not just for boardrooms, but for the vendors, the tech startups, the young entrepreneurs, and the family businesses that are trying to formalise and flourish.
“You are not just future Chartered Secretaries or Accountants. You are future advisors to SMEs, catalysts of job creation, and enablers of economic transformation,” she said.
The oversubscribed Summer School, running under the theme “Upscaling Governance and Accountancy Professionals for Enhanced Organisational Resilience,” is tackling topical issues ranging from the future of capital markets, artificial intelligence, and the evolving role of public financial management and auditing in building economic stability.
Founded in England in 1891, the global Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) — formerly the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators — was granted its Royal Charter in 1902, cementing its role as a premier institution for governance and accountability professionals.
