• Securities and Exchange Commission of Zambia launches a first of its kind regulatory sandbox for capital markets in the country
• The sandbox guidelines will protect investors and facilitate capital markets innovations under a controlled space.
• UN Capital Development Fund commits to supporting the sandbox guidelines to ensure access of capital markets by all customers.

Securities and Exchange Commission of Zambia says it is confident that the regulatory sandbox for capital markets will provide a framework to facilitate live testing of innovations under a controlled environment.
Speaking at the launch of a regulatory sandbox for capital markets in Lusaka, Commission Chief Executive Officer, Philip Chitalu said the sandbox guidelines are designed to protect investors and develop capital markets in Zambia.
‘‘Two of our (SEC) central focus is investor protection and developing the markets, so whilst we are venturing into the digital world to ensure that capital markets in Zambia use innovations, we are aware that at the centre of our development is to ensure that people do not lose their investments,’’ he said.
Mr. Chitalu also stated that the regulatory sandbox will provide an enabling environment for industry players to drive capital markets innovations that respond to market needs.
Meanwhile, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), Country Lead, Isaac Holly Ogwal says UNCDF is hopeful that the newly launched sandbox guidelines will provide a starting point for more innovations to transform the financial and capital markets in Zambia.
‘‘UNCDF remains committed to supporting our regulatory partners and the innovators for whom they are developing such enabling policies,’’ he stated.
‘‘With the regulatory sandbox being a first of its kind in the Zambian market, we know there are so many lessons to come from innovators, industry incumbents and regulators alike.’’
Mr. Ogwal said that UNCDF remains committed to supporting the country’s regulatory sandbox to ensure it drives access and adoption of capital markets activities by all customer segments.
Securities and Exchange Commission of Zambia in December last year issued Guidelines for a Regulatory Sandbox Framework for Capital Markets.