African insurance markets remain disconnected as regulatory disharmony, infrastructure gaps and insufficient sector cooperation hinder the development of unified cross-border coverage, according to Old Mutual Life Assurance general manager Linda Mariwande. Speaking at the Southern African Insurance Indaba in Victoria Falls, she explained that inconsistent rules across regional economic communities force businesses to navigate contradictory frameworks, raising compliance expenses and slowing continental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Mariwande pointed out that weak transport networks and border facilities further limit goods movement while domestic fragmentation persists within individual nations. Zimbabwe collects merely 1 percent of gross domestic product through insurance, leaving substantial resources untapped for development financing. The executive advocated for collaborative approaches to technology platforms and technical capacity while maintaining competitive dynamics in commercial activities, arguing that standardized regulations and shared systems could unlock significant revenue potential across the continent.
Mariwande pointed out that weak transport networks and border facilities further limit goods movement while domestic fragmentation persists within individual nations. Zimbabwe collects merely 1 percent of gross domestic product through insurance, leaving substantial resources untapped for development financing. The executive advocated for collaborative approaches to technology platforms and technical capacity while maintaining competitive dynamics in commercial activities, arguing that standardized regulations and shared systems could unlock significant revenue potential across the continent.
