VFEX securities enter 24-month transition under new rule

STAFF WRITER
Securities listed on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) will be subject to a 24-month transition period as Zimbabwe rolls out a new offshore financial regulatory framework through Statutory Instruments 62 and 63 of 2026.
The shift marks a significant structural realignment of the bourse, bringing it under the ambit of the Victoria Falls International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), as authorities push to position the platform as a competitive offshore investment hub.
Speaking during a webinar on the First Mutual Wealth Gold Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF), VFEX development specialist Sandra Munyoro said the regulatory overhaul reflects a broader repositioning of the exchange within an internationally recognisable financial ecosystem.
“There are new regulations that have just recently come out in 2026. The regulation essentially governs the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange as part of the Victoria Falls International Financial Services Centre,” Munyoro said.
The VFEX, which previously operated under the oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZ), is now transitioning into a framework tailored for offshore financial services following its designation under Statutory Instrument 29 of 2025.
This reclassification signals a decisive policy pivot — away from a purely domestic regulatory model towards one designed to facilitate cross-border capital flows, enhance investor access, and align with global offshore financial centre standards.
Munyoro said the IFSC, established within a special economic zone, is structured to streamline regulatory processes, reduce friction in capital mobility, and ultimately improve the ease of doing business for international investors.
“The whole thrust of these regulations that have just recently come out is to ensure that investing and the movement of funds within the International Financial Services Centre is as seamless as possible,” she said.