STAFF REPORTER
CABS has stepped forward with a bold new initiative aimed at reshaping Zimbabwe’s financial landscape for women. The institution has launched HerNest, an innovative banking solution designed to open doors for women and women-led businesses who have long found themselves on the margins of traditional finance.
Unveiled in Harare, HerNest signals a meaningful shift toward inclusive banking, acknowledging the real challenges women entrepreneurs face while offering practical, tailored support.
Speaking at the launch, CABS Chief Finance Officer Valerie Muyambo said, “This launch reflects a deliberate commitment to ensuring that women are not only seen and heard, but are also equipped to lead, grow, and transform communities and industries. As an organisation, we see this not only as a social imperative, but as a strategic opportunity to deepen financial inclusion and drive sustainable growth.”
Tapiwa Rukara Head of Business Banking added, “It has been shaped through extensive engagement across the ecosystem, including working with associations representing over 90,000 women entrepreneurs, engaging internal teams, and learning from regional markets such as Nairobi.”
HerNest offers both a Transactional Account and a Savings Account, designed to help women manage daily finances while building financial security over time. The product is also positioned as a gateway to broader financial opportunities, including access to credit.
During the product presentation, Afra Faith Zishiri highlighted the intentional design behind the solution, “It was through direct engagements with women across the country, we observed a clear pattern. Many are running small but growing businesses, often with limited resources, yet with strong potential when supported appropriately. They emphasised the need for simplicity, flexibility, and support that evolves with them. Access, they said, matters more than pricing; flexibility matters more than complexity. Above all, solutions must reflect the realities of how they live and work. These insights shaped every decision behind HerNest.”
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe stresses that women’s access to formal financial services is key to achieving gender equality, empowerment, and economic growth. Ensuring women can both access and effectively use affordable, inclusive financial products is essential. In this context, HerNest offers a timely, practical solution that bridges policy and practice while placing women at the centre of Zimbabwe’s economic transformation.