Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
WOMEN are increasingly leveraging movable assets to access formal credit, particularly within the lower to mid-value categories, pointing to growing confidence in formal lending systems and deepening financial inclusion across diverse borrower segments.
This was revealed in the Mid-Term Monetary Policy Review Statement issued on Thursday by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mushayavanhu who said that while men continued to pledge higher volumes of collateral overall, the total collateral pledged by women was showing a consistent upward trajectory.
“While men continue to pledge higher volumes overall, women are increasingly leveraging movable assets, particularly within the lower to mid-value categories. This trend reflects increasing confidence in formal lending systems and underscores the deepening of financial inclusion across diverse borrower segments. The total collateral pledged by women continues to show a consistent upward trajectory,” he said.
Dr Mushayavanhu said the trend was being supported by the continued expansion of the Collateral Registry System, which has become an important mechanism for unlocking borrowing opportunities for previously underserved segments.
“The Collateral Registry System sustained its upward growth trajectory during the half-year ended 30 June 2026, consolidating its position as a strategic tool for unlocking borrowing opportunities to the previously underserved segments.
“The collateral registry has, therefore, been instrumental in the mobilisation of movable assets to support borrowing for productive purposes.”
Cumulative registrations reached 13 006 by June 30, representing a 43,6 percent increase from 9 056 recorded at the end of December 2025.
“The half-year contributed 3,950 new registrations, equivalent to 87.0 percent of the record full-year 2025 outturn of 4,539, with momentum accelerating in the second quarter of 2026, (2,954 registrations) compared to the first (996 registrations),” he said.
The Reserve Bank established a collateral registry for movable assets in order to expand the range of qualifying collateral accepted by lenders as part of the broader reforms to promote access to finance and enhance financial inclusion.
The development is set to benefit micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as the household sectors and ultimately boost production.
SMEs face difficulties in accessing funding as financial institutions demand collateral in the form of immovable property like houses. The banking sector has in the past been accused of imposing stringent conditions for businesses that need funding.
The Governor said the surge in registrations was driven by policy interventions, awareness campaigns, and the onboarding of microfinance institutions, which are increasingly using the platform to expand secured lending.
“Strong growth in registration volumes has been underpinned by deliberate policy interventions, intensified awareness campaigns, and the continued onboarding of microfinance institutions, which are increasingly leveraging the platform to expand secured lending.
“Lending institutions continue to expand the types of movable assets which qualify as collateral. Collateral ranged from household goods, private vehicles, trucks, agricultural equipment to livestock.”
The growing use of movable assets is expected to widen access to credit for households, farmers, micro, small and medium enterprises and other borrowers who may not possess conventional forms of collateral such as immovable property.
The developments also point to a gradual broadening of participation in the formal financial system as borrowers increasingly use productive and household assets to unlock financing.
The collateral registry allows lenders to establish security interests over movable property, strengthening the lending ecosystem while providing borrowers with greater scope to use existing assets to access finance.
