Harare—Despite a turbulent economic environment, Bard Santner Inc says it has emerged from 2025 stronger, more resilient and more strategically positioned for long-term growth.
The fast-growing Harare-based financial services firm, which specialises in asset management, micro-finance, wealth advisory, investment promotion and remittances, says it closed the year with major milestones across regional expansion, regulatory approvals, investor mobilisation and corporate partnerships.
The company also operates TX Money Transfer, a prominent remittance service with an expanding footprint across Zimbabwe and the region.
According to its annual internal review titled “Bard Santner Inc: A Year of Resilience and Growth,” the business navigated persistent macroeconomic challenges through strategic leadership, innovation, operational efficiency and aggressive pursuit of opportunities.
Resilience in a Difficult Year
Chief Executive Senziwani Sikhosana, supported by senior executives Tatenda Hungwe and Lucia Chingwaru, steered the company through a volatile operating climate that tested the business’s agility.
“Despite numerous economic setbacks faced during the year, our team worked tirelessly to innovate, broaden our product offering and strengthen our position in the market,” the report reads. “Our ability to adapt quickly, remain optimistic and execute under pressure allowed us to meet rising customer and investor demand.”
The company cites improved operational efficiency, cost optimisation, technology investments and staff upskilling as key elements that enabled it to stay competitive and productive.
Major Milestones and High-Profile Engagements
The report outlines several defining achievements in 2025, including:
Regional expansion into Johannesburg, South Africa, where the firm opened an office in Sandton, adding to its representative office in New York.
High-level partnerships and the widening of its remittance network.
Participation in the Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja, one of Africa’s premier platforms for trade and investment dialogue.
Facilitating Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s visit to Zimbabwe, leading to commitments of more than US$1 billion in new investments in cement manufacturing, coal mining and power generation.
“These achievements confirmed our status as a vibrant, ambitious and rapidly expanding financial services player,” the report notes.
Growing Market Confidence
In March, Bard Santner recorded a major regulatory milestone when the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe appointed the company as asset manager for three Tasimba Properties (formerly Tetrad Investment Bank) unit trusts. The appointment reflected the growing confidence in the firm’s investment management capabilities and governance record.
In April, Bard Santner participated in the Seeff Zimbabwe Diaspora Property Showcase in Dallas, Texas, as part of a strategy to deepen engagements with the diaspora market and attract new clients across North America.
Afreximbank Meetings and Dangote Engagements
The company’s presence at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja strengthened its regional networks and positioned it in key continental discussions around trade, investment and economic transformation.
The Abuja engagements opened the door for follow-up meetings with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, which later took place in Lagos. The discussions culminated in Dangote’s decision to revisit Zimbabwe after previous attempts in 2015 and 2018 stalled — this time committing over US$1 billion to major industrial projects.
South African Expansion and Corporate Social Responsibility
A major breakthrough for the company came in July when Bard Santner secured two regulatory approvals in South Africa:
National Credit Regulator Licence
Asset Manager Licence
These approvals paved the way for the company to offer credit, wealth management and investment solutions in one of Africa’s most sophisticated financial markets. They also formed part of Bard Santner’s broader vision to build a borderless Pan-African financial institution.
On the corporate social responsibility front, Bard Santner’s annual SA Golf Challenge continued to grow as a leading business networking platform in Southern Africa. The tournament’s reputation soared further following the introduction of an all-expenses-paid trip for the champion to attend the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City.
Senior executive Tatenda Hungwe will accompany this year’s winner, following a similar trip earlier in the year where he travelled with Royal Golf Club captain Audley Chatora to the Investec South African Open in Durban.
Additionally, the Bard Santner Road to SA Challenge, launched in partnership with Royal Harare Golf Club in October 2024, has quickly become Zimbabwe’s premier corporate golf tournament.
Economic Outlook and Future Plans
Looking ahead, Bard Santner plans to bring more high-profile investors to Zimbabwe and leverage the country’s improving economic prospects. National and international financial institutions project GDP growth of around 5% in 2025–2026, driven largely by agriculture, mining and a stabilising services sector.
Although Zimbabwe continues to battle high public debt and external arrears, easing inflation, currency stability and policy consistency have created cautious optimism for recovery.
Bard Santner says sustained economic reforms, improved governance and a stable policy environment will be critical for preserving investor confidence and achieving the country’s Vision 2030 targets.
Key Executives
Senziwani Sikhosana — Chief Executive Officer
Holds a Master’s degree in Banking and Commerce from NUST and is an Associate Chartered Management Accountant. Worked for multiple merchant banks before co-founding Access Finance and later establishing Bard Santner.
Tatenda Hungwe — Executive Director, Diversified Financial Services
Has worked in stockbroking, advisory and financial markets across Zimbabwe, South Africa, the UAE and beyond, including roles with Sagit Financial Holdings, Dubai Professional Trading Group, N2 Capital Markets, DeVere and others.
Lucia Chingwaru — Executive Director
Started her career at Nissi Finance and CBZ before rising into senior roles at Kingdom Bank. Later joined Access Finance and became Country Director for Access Forex. Appointed Executive Director at Bard Santner in 2022, where she drives strategic leadership and organisational performance.
