The Insurance Institute of Zimbabwe (IIZ) is set to host its flagship regional gathering, the Southern Africa Insurance Indaba (SAII) 2026. Taking place from 11 to 14 November 2026 at the Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The executive summit will bring together C-suite decision-makers, regulators, reinsurers, and technology leaders from across the continent under the theme “Futureproofing African Insurance.”
Strategic imperatives for a rapidly evolving industry
As African insurance markets navigate heightened climate risks, digital disruption, regulatory shifts, and economic volatility, the 2026 Indaba serves as an essential platform to align regional strategies. Deliberations will focus on transitioning insurance from a traditional protection instrument into an engine for long-term domestic capital formation, cross-border resilience, and inclusive growth.
Key focus areas on the 2026 agenda include:
Regional risk capacity & integration: scaling domestic and cross-border underwriting balance sheets to retain risk within the continent and minimize capital flight to international reinsurance markets,
Technology & AI integration: harnessing artificial intelligence, predictive underwriting, and mobile distribution architectures to lower acquisition costs and extend coverage to underserved micro-enterprises and smallholder farmers,
Cyber resilience & data protection: establishing robust governance models as insurers digitize core operations and handle increasingly sensitive customer data,
Climate resilience & alternative risk transfer: expanding parametric insurance models and regional catastrophe risk-pooling mechanisms to address climate-induced macro shocks across Southern Africa.
Industry leaders and stakeholders align
The event brings together leading African institutions and market pioneers including Old Mutual Zimbabwe, WAICA Reinsurance Corporation PLC, Minerva Risk Advisors, Zimnat, ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company), 2Cana Solutions, and Fachs Business Consulting to foster strategic partnerships and map actionable steps for the industry’s future.
The indaba will have powerful speakers including Lydia Tanyanyiwa, Willem Smith and Webster Chigwende. Delegates are coming different countries including South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, UAE (Dubai) and Zimbabwe.
By bringing regional perspectives together in Victoria Falls, the Southern Africa Insurance Indaba 2026 aims to redefine how the industry manages systemic risk, builds trust, and drives sustainable economic growth across Africa.