Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE) has partnered with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Zambia, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening professionalism, governance, transparency and long-term value creation within the country’s capital markets.
Through this partnership, LuSE and ACCA Zambia will collaborate on promoting high-quality financial reporting and disclosure among listed companies and prospective issuers, supporting corporate governance and ethical leadership, as well as strengthening the listing pipeline, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The collaboration will also focus on joint capacity building, training and thought leadership for market participants, while encouraging young professionals and students to view capital markets as a viable and impactful career path.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lusaka, LuSE Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Kabaso said the agreement signals a shared commitment by two institutions at the heart of Zambia’s financial architecture to work together in building a credible and resilient capital market.
Mr. Kabaso noted that while LuSE’s mandate is to mobilize capital, deepen financial inclusion and support sustainable economic growth, trust remains the foundation of any effective capital market.
“No capital market can function effectively without trust, and trust is built on strong financial reporting, ethical conduct, and high professional standards. This is where ACCA’s role is both natural and indispensable.”
“ACCA has, over many decades, played a defining role in developing worldclass accounting and finance professionals in Zambia and across the globe. Your members sit at the centre of corporate decision-making, as finance directors, auditors, regulators, advisors, and stewards of public interest,” Mr. Kabaso stated.
He said the collaboration comes at an opportune time, as Zambia’s capital markets continue to attract renewed attention following macroeconomic reforms, improving investor confidence and strong performance by listed companies.
Mr. Kabaso reiterated that LuSE delivered exceptional market returns last year, rewarding investors with 68 percent returns in local currency and over 100 percent in US dollar terms, while the market now boasts three unicorn companies.
“We are seeing increased interest in equities, greater retail participation driven by technology, and a growing appreciation that capital markets are not optional, but essential, to national development,” he noted.
He, however, stressed that as the market grows, expectations around governance, transparency, environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, and financial integrity will continue to rise, making partnerships such as the one with ACCA Zambia critical for sustainable growth.
Mr. Kabaso stressed that LuSE and ACCA Zambia share common values, including a focus on long-term value creation, commitment to public interest and market integrity, and recognition that human capital is the foundation of strong institutions.
“Together, we can contribute meaningfully to national priorities such as financial sector development, private sector-led growth, and Zambia’s broader Vision 2030 aspirations,” Mr. Kabaso stressed.
“Let me assure you that LuSE approaches this partnership not as a symbolic gesture, but as a living, working collaboration that will deliver tangible outcomes for professionals, issuers, investors, and the broader economy. As we append our signatures today, we are not just signing a document — we are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more trusted, and more inclusive Zambian capital market.”
