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Nokuthaba Brita Ncube, [email protected]

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has, with immediate effect, exempted licensing fees for the establishment of bureaux de change branches in remote and underserved communities, a move aimed at promoting financial inclusion.

In its latest Monetary Policy Statement, the central bank reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to financial services, emphasising that financial inclusion promotes a strong and robust economy in which all individuals can participate in economic activities.

“The Reserve Bank remains committed to fostering financial inclusion and allowing wider access to financial services, including ZiG, to remote and under-served communities, including designated growth points,” said the RBZ.

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The central bank noted that financial inclusion and women’s empowerment remain key priorities for the Government and its development partners, given their significant role in transforming livelihoods.

To build an inclusive financial system, the RBZ has been working closely with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development to ensure that marginalised groups have equitable access to financial services and opportunities for wealth creation.

As a member of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Gender Inclusive Finance Committee (GIFC), the RBZ has played a key role in shaping the newly launched Global Gender Inclusive Finance Policy.

The bank is actively implementing international best practices and recommendations to advance gender-inclusive finance in Zimbabwe.