Why the time to invest, list and grow is now Nicholas Kabaso A Market Coming of AgeFOR many years, Zambia’s capital market has been viewed as a complementary component of the financial system. Today, I believe we have reached an important inflection point, one at which the capital market is becoming an increasingly significant engine of economic growth, private-sector development, and national wealth creation.This transformation has not happened overnight. It is the result of deliberate reforms, rising investor confidence, product innovation, and a growing recognition among businesses that sustainable growth requires access to long-term capital.The evidence is becoming increasingly compelling.Today, the Lusaka Securities Exchange has a market capitalization in excess of US$17 billion, and the value of listed companies now accounts for more than 50% of Zambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This is a significant milestone that demonstrates the growing relevance of the capital market to the Zambian economy.The Exchange...

CUSTOMERS can now pay with their preferred mobile wallet at Shoprite stores across Zambia, giving them more choice at checkout and a simple, convenient way to complete their purchases. Mobile money adoption continues to surge in Zambia as consumers increasingly move from traditional payment methods to digital transactions. The number of active mobile money wallet payments nearly doubled to 17 million between 2020 and 2025, while transaction values increased by 743%. More than three-quarters of Zambian adults now use mobile money, up from 58% in 2020. In response to this shift, Airtel Money, MoMo from MTN and Zamtel Money are now accepted as payment methods in Shoprite stores for everything from weekly groceries to Shoprite Money Market services, including airtime, data, electricity purchases, and gift cards. “As the way customers transact continues to evolve, we want to ensure they have access to secure and convenient payment options that meet their...