The initiative, officially launched by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr. John Mushayavanhu in Harare, aims to equip secondary and high school learners with practical financial literacy and exposure to national economic governance. Nearly 50% of secondary schools nationwide have already registered for the inaugural edition.
How the Challenge Works
The program is run in partnership with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and UNICEF. Instead of a typical academic competition, the challenge functions as a practical simulation where students assume the roles of central bank officials, including Child RBZ Governors and Deputy Governors.
Participating student teams will navigate the program across multiple stages:
- Role Assignments: Students act out mock leadership roles to tackle real economic scenarios.
- Core Tasks: Teams are required to conduct research, complete structured assignments, and deliver economic presentations.
- Community Engagement: Students will organize localized financial literacy activities within their communities.
- Assessment Levels: Assignments and presentations will be evaluated across cluster, district, provincial, and national tiers.
National Investment and Timeline
The RBZ presented a symbolic ZWG10 million cheque at the launch to fund the nationwide initiative. According to central bank officials, the program aligns with Zimbabwe's National Development Strategy 2 by fostering human capital development and early civic participation in economic policy.
The Schools Monetary Policy Challenge is an extended national initiative and will continue running through to its culmination in December 2026.