Omega Ukama 
THERE is an urgent need for a strategic partnership between the country’s formal businesses and the informal sector.
So says the chief executive of Old Mutual Zimbabwe, Samuel Matsekete, who adds that such collaboration will lift the economy and drive inclusive growth.
Speaking in Harare on Friday, at this year’s glitzy and well-attended Top Companies Survey (TCS) awards, Matsekete said Zimbabwe could not hope to jump from a resources-based economy to a services economy without recognising the businesses that operated outside the formal system.
This came as the country’s informal sector continues to account for more than 70 percent of Zimbabwe’s economy, according to most estimates.
The prestigious TCS awards are organised by The Financial Gazette — the country’s number one business publication and prime voice for industry and commerce — in close partnership with Old Mutual.
“The informal sector has been a masterclass in resourcefulness, from vendors coordinating orders and deliveries through WhatsApp, to small enterprises running full e-commerce operations on Instagram and TikTok,” Matsekete said.
He added that big companies needed to stop viewing the informal economy as peripheral, and instead treat it as “a strategic partner in national development”.
“Kenya has successfully integrated its informal economy through mobile platforms such as M-Pesa, while leveraging AI-driven solutions to transition toward service-oriented, digitally-enabled business models.
“By adopting similar approaches, we can empower Zimbabwe’s informal entrepreneurs and drive inclusive growth,” Matsekete added.
Delta Corporation and Caledonia Mining Corporation were crowned the winners of the 2025 TCS awards.
Delta topped the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange rankings, while Caledonia led the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange performance chart.
In other comments, Matsekete challenged businesses to invest in digital infrastructure to support the adoption of required Artificial Intelligence.
“We cannot achieve the AI transformation without digital infrastructure.
“We need to integrate AI across all sectors,” he said, urging companies to explore opportunities arising from the energy demands of data centres.
Matsekete also emphasised Old Mutual’s own investments in technology and sustainability as part of its contribution to the national transition.
He added that the group was strengthening its support for mining through improved processing capabilities and empowerment of small-scale miners.
Digital platforms such as MyOldMutual and O’mari, he said, “embody our vision of moving beyond traditional constraints into a digital-first future.”
Matsekete also underscored the role of young entrepreneurs in shaping the country’s AI-enabled economy.
“By adopting AI-driven solutions, young entrepreneurs can launch service-based businesses, from digital platforms and automated customer support to AI-powered logistics and financial services, driving job creation and economic growth,” he said.
