About the institute

THE Institute of Directors Zimbabwe (IoDZ) is a membership-based organisation established in 1958.

It is affiliated to the IoD UK and closely works with the Global Corporate Governance Forum, a subsidiary of the IFC.

It is a founding member of the African Corporate Governance Network (ACGN), a network of institutes of directors across the African continent.

The institute integrates own and well-researched material from these and other well-placed organisations in the field of leadership and corporate governance to promote business excellence, integrity and ethical leadership in entrepreneurs, directors, CEOs, leaders, senior executives and consultants of organisations in both private and public sectors. This is done in order to raise standards and levels of good corporate governance in Zimbabwe, thus striving to make the country a more attractive destination for investment.

IoDZ background

The institute is affiliated to the IOD UK, incorporated by Royal Charter in the UK.

In 1993, the organisation adopted an affiliate status to the IoD UK and became known as the Institute of Directors Zimbabwe.

Its thrust is to proffer solutions to the challenges that Zimbabwe faces to promote a sustainable development path, based on profiles of corporate governance competencies contributing to global efforts to combat corruption and promote ethical best practice.

The institute has been moving with the strategy 2018-2021.

The current task is to build a sustainable strategy for 2022-2025 for the institute and focus on realignment and execution going forward.

Future directors

The aim of the programme is to develop a future generation of directors and groom them to positively understand the boardroom dynamics, bridging the experience gap faced by professionals seeking to move into governance roles.

The programme provides in-depth knowledge on practical governance issues and further awards an opportunity to participate on a board through placement, mentorship and coaching of young people.

In return, this programme creates a platform for matching aspiring board members with host boards based on participant skills, experience and requirements stipulated by the host board.

Advanced certificate in company direction

An Advanced Certificate in Company Direction was introduced in 2012 to provide a programme of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for directors and senior management from all business sectors.

The programme is designed to adequately prepare those who have not been on boards and those who are on boards who would like to retool on most of the required knowledge and best practice in corporate governance, among other areas

The programme is spaced over three to four months and is divided into four parts, as can be gleaned from the four parts outlined below.

The first two parts are taken each over three consecutive days spaced over two months. The last two are taken over four consecutive days, again spread over two to three months.

Part One: The introduction to corporate governance

It prepares participants for the required grounding on what corporate governance is, how it has evolved and the practice of corporate governance. Participants are introduced to the requirements of producing a satisfactory case study at the end of the programme.

Part Two: The board

It prepares the participants to become effective members of the board through understanding board roles, director duties and liabilities, as well as understanding board procedures for effective meetings.

Essentially, this section prepares the board member to be able to ask the right questions, given the knowledge of the business environment, the strategy and operations of the organisation.

Part Three: Strategic leadership

To be an effective board member requires entrepreneurial leadership. This section prepares the board member, not only to understand the business environment further, but to also understand strategic issues, think strategically and ask the right questions at the right time to maximise desired results.

Participants also go through adequate grounding on alternative dispute resolution.

Part Four: Financial stewardship and accountability

It prepares the participants to grasp the financial responsibilities placed on the board, the need to ensure adequate handling of financial oversight, adequate reporting, understanding financial markets and corporate finance, as well as the control environment, and evaluating and managing risk. Participants are then expected to submit their written case study ahead of presenting the same to the group and IoDZ programme facilitators.

IoDZ services Director training and development on corporate governance best practice Board instruments formulations reports IoDZ products Women on boards

The Women on Boards Zimbabwe (WoBZ) was launched by the Institute of Directors Zimbabwe on 26 August 2016. WoBZ is an IoDZ initiative that seeks to increase the number of professional women in executive and board positions, as well as develop women through training and other processes, such as mentorship and coaching. Ultimately, WoBZ strives to place its women members on boards through the IoDZ Board Placement

Service. • Open training workshops and seminars • In-house and tailormade training workshops • Board induction and orientation • Board refresher programmes • Board assessments and evaluation • Board placements and board compositions • Board charter • Board code of conduct • Board code of ethics strategic plans • Constitution development • Consultancy services to boards and executives • Advisory services on corporate governance • Facilitation of strategic planning • Director remuneration/fees surveys and • Corporate governance surveys and reports