The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange Limited has received regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe to operationalise its Small and Medium Enterprises Exchange under the brand name Zimbabwe Entrepreneurship Exchange, or ZEEX. The approval marks a major step in the ZSE’s strategy to widen access to capital markets and build a more inclusive financial ecosystem.
ZEEX is positioned as a technology-driven, entrepreneurship-focused platform designed specifically to unlock capital for small and medium enterprises operating in Zimbabwe’s fast-evolving economy. The exchange will provide efficient, transparent, and cost-effective capital raising and trading mechanisms tailored to the needs of emerging businesses.
Rainbow Hotels — Experience Luxury Across Zimbabwe
Rainbow Hotels continues to redefine hospitality standards in Zimbabwe, offering world-class accommodation, fine dining, and modern conference facilities in Harare, Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls.
Whether for business or leisure, Rainbow Hotels delivers unmatched comfort, exceptional service, and a truly premium guest experience tailored to modern travellers.
Book NowAccording to the ZSE, ZEEX addresses a long-standing gap in the market. Many viable SMEs have remained excluded from formal capital markets due to structural barriers, high costs, and limited access to traditional financing. By formalising capital raising activities and introducing structured funding alternatives, ZEEX aims to strengthen transparency and investor protection while supporting innovation-driven enterprises.
ZEEX will operate across two distinct segments to serve businesses at different stages of growth.
The ZEEX Private Market will facilitate capital raising through structured private placements, offering a regulated and efficient avenue for entrepreneurs seeking pre-public investment. This segment is intended for businesses that require funding but are not yet ready for a public listing.
The ZEEX Public Market will enable companies to raise capital, list securities, and access secondary market trading. It provides emerging businesses with a transparent and credible route to public markets, allowing them to scale while giving investors a regulated venue to trade SME securities.
Commenting on the approval, Justin Bgoni, Group CEO of ZSE Holdings Limited, said the launch comes against the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s significant and expanding informal sector.
“A large number of viable small and medium enterprises remain excluded from formal capital markets due to structural barriers, prohibitive costs, and constrained access to traditional financing. The establishment of ZEEX represents a strategic response to this challenge,” Bgoni said.
He added that by harnessing technology to deliver an SME-focused exchange, ZEEX will formalise capital raising activities, introduce structured funding alternatives, and strengthen transparency and investor protection. The platform is also expected to support innovation-driven enterprises and advance broader objectives of financial inclusion and economic formalisation.
The ZSE confirmed it is in the final stages of establishing the requisite compliance frameworks for ZEEX. Once these processes are concluded, a formal launch date will be announced.
The Exchange extended appreciation to key stakeholders who contributed to reaching the milestone, including the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, SECZim, and market participants for their support and cooperation throughout the process.
The launch of ZEEX adds to the ZSE’s suite of capital market platforms and aligns with national efforts to deepen financial markets and bring more businesses into the formal economy.
