The Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe has intensified efforts to tap into local technological talent as part of its drive to modernise capital market regulation.
This follows the successful hosting of the prototype demonstration phase of the inaugural Universities’ Competition for the Development of Capital Market Regulatory ICT Systems.
The two-day event, held in Harare from December 1 to 2, 2025, brought together university teams showcasing innovative regulatory technology solutions before a panel of expert assessors drawn from key government ministries and regulatory institutions.
The competition is part of SECZim’s broader strategy to collaborate with academia in developing advanced systems that address real-time market supervision challenges.
Speaking at the event, SECZim Acting CEO Grace Berejena said the initiative aligns with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises innovation and the creation of a knowledge-driven digital economy.
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“This competition is a deliberate investment in Zimbabwe’s youthful innovation capacity and a practical step towards strengthening our regulatory frameworks using homegrown solutions,” she said.
Six universities registered for the competition after participating in requirements-gathering workshops facilitated by SECZim. Four institutions — the National University of Science and Technology, Midlands State University, Harare Institute of Technology, and the University of Zimbabwe — successfully developed and submitted working prototypes for Prudential and Anti-Money Laundering Risk-Based Supervision systems.
The systems are designed to automate the analysis of large volumes of market data to improve the detection of systemic risks, strengthen market integrity, and combat financial crime.
Judges from the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, and other regulatory bodies evaluated the live demonstrations based on innovation, functionality, scalability, usability, and their potential impact on capital markets regulation.
Judges are expected to finalise their evaluations within two weeks, after which the winning teams will be announced. Universities that emerge victorious in each category will receive prize money and may be contracted by SECZim to further develop and implement their systems.
SECZim said the competition responds to the growing need for advanced supervisory tools that enable proactive, risk-based oversight of capital market intermediaries.
The regulator emphasised that the prototype requirements were carefully designed to address specific regulatory gaps and strengthen the effectiveness of market supervision.
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