Financial Inclusion and Digital Transformation Regulatory Practices in Selected SADC Countries - South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe

This book investigates the regulation and promotion of financial inclusion and provides a comparative analysis of the regulation, promotion and enforcement of the relevant laws in the SADC (in particular, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe), as well as the challenges of financial inclusion. In turn, it evaluates financial inclusion in the context of specific challenges faced by unbanked and underbanked customers, who are easy targets for cyber criminals because they tend to have lower levels of digital literacy. 

The book presents novel discussions that identify the challenges and flaws associated with the enforcement of financial inclusion laws and related measures intended to promote financial inclusion in the SADC region. This is primarily done in order to reveal the current strengths and weaknesses of financial inclusion laws in relation to certain aspects of the companies, securities and financial markets in the region. For example, there is no common financial inclusion instrument/law that is effectively and uniformly applied throughout the SADC. This has impeded the enforcement authorities' efforts to effectively combat financial exclusion across the region.

The book is likely the most comprehensive study to date on the regulation and promotion of financial inclusion in the SADC region and fills a major gap in SADC and African legal jurisprudence. As such, it offers a valuable asset for policymakers, attorneys, bankers, securities (share) holders, and other market participants who deal with financial inclusion, as well as undergraduate and graduate students interested in the topic.

Howard Chitimira is a full Professor of Law and Research Professor at the Faculty of Law, North-West University. He is also an advocate of the High Court of South Africa and a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated legal scholar. Prof Chitimira holds the degrees Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Cum Laude) from the University of Fort Hare (UFH); Master of Laws (LLM) from UFH and Doctor of Laws (LLD) from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). For his doctorate, he specialised in securities and financial markets law. Prof Chitimira is a reviewer and editorial board member of several law journals in South Africa and elsewhere, as well as an external examiner for LLB, LLM and LLD degrees at several universities. He serves on editorial boards of journals and a member of several academic and related associations. 

Tapiwa Victor Warikandwa holds a Doctor of Laws in International Trade Law. He is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department in the Faculty of Law at the University of Namibia. He specialises in International Trade Law, Labour Law, Indigenisation Laws, Mining Law and Constitutional Law amongst other disciplines. Prior to coming to Namibia, Dr. Warikandwa worked as a legal officer and later legal advisor in the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare in Zimbabwe. Key amongst his duties was legal drafting. Dr Warikandwa worked with the law reviser of the Ministry of Justice in Zimbabwe in reviewing laws administered by the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare. Dr Warikandwa also completed an ordinary and advanced training in Labour Law Making at the International Labour Organization's International Training Centre in Turin Italy. On numerous occasions, Dr. Warikandwa was actively involved in the activities of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation on behalf of the Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare.