Staff Writer
Zimre Holdings Limited (ZHL) is banking on strategic partnerships and balance sheet optimisation to strengthen returns for shareholders and expand its footprint across Africa.
Speaking on the sidelines of the group’s annual general meeting recently, Zimre chief executive officer Stanley Kudenga said ZHL was under pressure to deliver stronger returns on capital and is turning to asset leveraging and regional collaborations as key levers of growth.
“Our balance sheet is heavily exposed to property assets, yet rentals are capped at around 10–15%. To give shareholders meaningful returns, we need to innovate and find ways of leveraging those assets to generate better value,” he explained.
Kudenga said ZHL’s expansion drive remains firmly anchored in its core insurance operations, with new brokerages being established in Côte d’Ivoire and Angola, while Tanzania is also under consideration subject to capital availability.
He emphasised that strategic partnerships are at the centre of this growth strategy. In Mozambique, for example, ZHL is working closely with the government and leading insurer IMOS to roll out broking and other insurance initiatives.
On the domestic front, the entry of Mutapa Investment Fund as a major shareholder has created new opportunities.
“Looking at Mutapa and its portfolio, it is clear we have to take advantage of the ecosystem it brings. The partnerships within the group and across stakeholders are critical to our next phase of growth,” Kudenga said.
He added that the group’s regional thrust is aimed at re-establishing ZHL as a competitive pan-African player, despite years of balance sheet erosion caused by economic headwinds.
“We want to optimise what we already have, strengthen our partnerships and reposition ourselves as one of the most significant players in Africa,” Kudenga noted.
