Victoria Falls Hosts Zimbabwe’s 4th Anti-Money Laundering Dialogue, Emphasizing Regional Cooperation

VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe – In a significant move to bolster the fight against financial crime, Zimbabwe has convened its fourth Public Private Sector Dialogue in the resort town of Victoria Falls, marking the first time the high-profile event has been held outside the capital, Harare.

The event, organized by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Zimbabwe, has drawn hundreds of delegates in person and online, with its stature growing annually. This year’s conference is being streamed live on the FIU’s digital platforms, including YouTube, as part of a broader digital transformation initiative.

In his opening address, Mr. O. Chiperesa, Director General, Financial Intelligence Unit. Who also chairs the National Anti-Money Laundering Advisory Committee, extended a warm welcome to delegates. The gathering includes senior officials from various government ministries, law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, fintech companies, and representatives from the private sector.

The conference has taken on a distinctly regional character, with a strong presence from international partners. A special recognition was given to a delegation from Zambia, led by the Director General of the Financial Intelligence Centre, Mr. Clement Kapalu. The event also welcomed colleagues from South Africa, including Ismail Momoniat, former Acting Director General of Treasury, and a representative from the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) Secretariat.

“We thank you for your neighbourly solidarity and support. Your presence here is a strong testament to our shared commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the region’s financial system and acknowledgement of the reality that financial crimes know no borders,” Chiperesa stated.

The dialogue is being held under the theme, “Consolidating Progress and Driving Action Towards a High Level of AML/CFT Effectiveness.” This theme is particularly critical as Zimbabwe prepares for its third-round mutual evaluation by the ESAAMLG in a few months—a key assessment of the country’s anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) frameworks.

Highlighting the evolving threat of financial crime, the address noted that these crimes “continue to evolve in complexity and scope, exploiting new technologies, global networks, and economic vulnerabilities,” thereby undermining public trust and hindering development.

The FIU emphasized that success in combating these threats hinges on “effective cooperation, information sharing, and mutual trust” among all domestic and international stakeholders. The two-day forum is designed as a platform to reflect on progress, share best practices, and explore innovative approaches to strengthen the collective response to financial crimes.

Delegates were encouraged to engage in open dialogue and practical collaboration over the next two days, with the goal of building stronger partnerships to protect the nation’s and the region’s financial integrity.