Banks & Banking Survey Awards on next week

ALPHA Media Holdings (AMH) weekly publication, Zimbabwe Independent will next week host its annual Banks and Banking Survey Awards.

The survey seeks to reward the best-performing banks in the country — their resilience and excellence in a murky economic environment. The annual event is being held in partnership with First Capital Bank Zimbabwe, who has been the official sponsor of the survey for the past eight years. Now in its 24th edition, the event will be held under the theme ‘Achieving Economic Growth Through Sustainable Finance’.

AMH chief executive officer Kenias Mafukidze said banks play a key role in allocating finance for the functioning of the economy.

“This year’s event comes when we are left with only seven years to our 2030 vision of attaining an upper middle-income economy,” he said.

“In order for Zimbabwe to achieve Vision 2030, there is need for banks to play a key role in allocating finances for the functioning of the economy. A sustained economic growth will require investment into technology and innovation, power and energy, education, and health among other key economic clusters.”

Mafukidze said banks contribute to channelling private investment towards the transition to a climate-neutral, climate-resilient, resource efficient, and fair economy. The awards will be hosted as an in-person event and online.

“I must say it is exciting to be back to face-toface interactions and networking. We have lined up esteemed speakers to unpack this theme,” the AMH boss said.

“Chief among, them is Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor (John Mangudya), the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe president (Lawrence Nyazema) and country representatives of the main development banks.

“This year’s event, like all previous years, seeks to recognise banks and bankers who have moved the needle and are making significant and notable contributions into gross domestic product growth.”

Mafukidze said achievement of the Vision 2030 demanded double digit gross national income growth of close to 14%, adding that this could not be done with a mediocre financial system. This year, there will be results of an online survey in which people voted for three categories as the survey seeks to encourage stakeholder participation. These are the People’s Choice Bank, the Best Deposit Taking Microfinance Bank supporting SMES and the Best Bank in terms of Customer Satisfaction.