Strydom stakes Old Mutual future on Zimbabwe

Jurie Strydom chose Zimbabwe as his first destination after becoming Old Mutual Group chief executive officer in June, signaling the financial services company’s strong interest in the nation. Strydom replaced Iain Williamson, who retired early and left his position on August 31. The new leader holds an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and joined Old Mutual as an independent director in December 2023.

Strydom met with President Mnangagwa, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange on Tuesday to assess operations and market conditions. He praised the country’s economic stability and confirmed the group would expand investments supporting growth. Zimbabwe’s economy is projected to grow by 6 percent in 2025, driven by improved performance in the agriculture and mining sectors.

Old Mutual operates across 12 African countries, providing insurance, asset management and banking services. The company invests heavily in renewable energy, infrastructure and student housing projects throughout Zimbabwe. Local chief executive Samuel Matsekete emphasized that price stability and consistent exchange rates remain priorities for the business community ahead of the launch of the National Development Strategy 2 framework for 2026-2030.