Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. STANBIC Bank Zimbabwe recently launched its Blue on Green Sustainability Forum, a landmark event aimed at driving the sustainability agenda across Zimbabwe and the wider African continent.
Themed “Shaping Africa’s Sustainable Future,” the forum convened thought leaders, regulators, and industry experts to develop impactful solutions for the region’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.
The bank’s chief executive, Solomon Nyanhongo, described the conference as a significant milestone for the Standard Bank Group subsidiary.
He said it provided a crucial platform for key stakeholders to collaborate on building a more sustainable and resilient future.
“The Blue on Green Forum was born from a simple but powerful realisation — that sustainability is a shared journey. None of us has all the answers. The challenges we face — climate risk, energy transition, food security, and social inclusion — require collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning,” Nyanhongo stated.
He emphasised that the conference was a platform for “listening, learning, and leading,” bringing together diverse voices to spark discussions that translate into “real, actionable change within our industries and communities.”
Nyanhongo also reflected that sustainability has evolved within the bank, moving from a strategic pillar to a core principle.
“As we often say, Zimbabwe is our home, and we drive her growth. That statement has never felt more relevant. It underpins how we invest, how we serve, and how we measure success — not only in financial terms but also in social and environmental positive impact,” he said.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) deputy governor Jesimen Chipika affirmed that the forum’s theme aligned with global momentum, where sustainability is now a strategic priority and a key driver of innovation.
Chipika detailed the central bank’s commitment, noting it had rolled out a Sustainability Standards and Certification Initiative (SSCI) across the banking sector.
“Through a Central Bank-led model, the Reserve Bank has facilitated the participation of 19 financial institutions in the SSCI framework, with one of our banking institutions having been certified,” Chipika revealed.
Echoing this commitment, Standard Bank Group’s head of sustainability, Boitumelo Sethlatswe, said the forum signalled that Africa’s largest financial institution is dedicated to sustainability “not just in principle, but in practice.”
“Sustainability is embedded in our strategy, it’s embedded in how we govern, it’s embedded in our operations,” Sethlatswe said. “None of us can say we have arrived, but we are certainly looking at how we continue this journey to make sure that we’re supporting our clients, that we allocate capital adequately, and that we measure success.”
The conference explored practical pathways to scale sustainable finance in African markets, focusing on how green and blended finance can unlock impact in sectors like renewable energy, smart agriculture, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
The event also saw the unveiling of Stanbic’s 2024 Sustainability Report, showcasing the bank’s efforts to build a future that is inclusive, resilient, and distinctly African.
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