IPEC Successfully Hosts the OAISA Annual General Assembly in Harare
The Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) last week successfully hosted the 2025 meetings of the Organisation of African Insurance Supervisory Authorities (OAISA), bringing together Commissioners and senior representatives of insurance regulatory bodies from across the African continent.
The series of engagements—comprising the Executive Committee meeting, Capacity Building Seminar, and the Annual General Assembly—affirmed Zimbabwe’s growing role as a convener of strategic continental conversations on insurance regulation, innovation, and market development. The meetings provided a critical platform for supervisors to reflect on sectoral developments, share regulatory experiences, and shape the collective agenda for strengthening insurance markets across Africa.
Election of New OAISA Leadership
A key highlight of the General Assembly was the election of new leaders who will guide OAISA’s strategic direction over the coming term:
- Mr Issouf Traoré, Insurance Directorate of Côte d’Ivoire – OAISA President
- Dr Abiba Zakariah, Commissioner, National Insurance Commission of Ghana – Vice President
- Dr Grace Muradzikwa, Commissioner, Insurance and Pensions Commission of Zimbabwe – Southern Africa Regional Representative on the OAISA Executive Committee
These elections marked an important moment for the continent’s regulatory community, reinforcing the collaborative spirit, regional balance, and shared vision that underpin OAISA’s work.
Capacity Building Seminar: Deepening Regulatory Knowledge
The Capacity Building Seminar centred on emerging and transformative themes shaping the future of insurance markets in Africa. Delegates participated in in-depth discussions on:
- Agricultural index-based insurance and its potential to enhance climate resilience and protect smallholder farmers;
- Risk-Based Supervision (RBS) as a foundation for strong, proactive, and analytically driven regulatory frameworks; and
- Opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in deepening integration, expanding regional insurance markets, and strengthening cross-border regulatory oversight.
The seminar featured high-level presentations from seasoned industry experts and regulatory leaders, including:
- Mr Cuthbert Munjoma, IPEC Director – Life and Pensions Supervision, who delivered a presentation on Risk-Based Supervision (RBS);
- Mr Cuthbert Masukume, Insurance Council of Zimbabwe Agriculture Pool Chairperson and AFC Insurance Managing Director, who presented on Agricultural Index-Based Insurance;
- Mr Isaac Zyambo, Head of Agriculture at ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company), who also presented on Agriculture Index-Based Insurance; and
- Mrs Emily Mburu-Ndoria, Director for Trade in Services, Investment, IPR and Digital Trade at the AfCFTA Secretariat, who shared insights on AfCFTA and its implications for insurance markets.
The event also included an engaging panel discussion on Risk-Based Supervision, featuring:
- Ms. Rutendo Magorimbo, Managing Director, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company
- Mr. Sydney Lishokomosi, Manager – Insurance and Medical Aid Funds, Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA)
Their contributions enriched the dialogue and provided diverse perspectives on supervisory reforms, capacity development, and the evolving insurance landscape.
Hosting the OAISA meetings further cemented IPEC’s commitment to supporting regional regulatory collaboration and contributing to a resilient and inclusive insurance sector across Africa.
