The main goal of the Strategy was to achieve universal access to and usage of a broad range of quality and affordable financial services that meet the needs of individuals and enterprises and targets overall financial inclusion of 80% of the adult population by 2022; In 2017, under the National Strategy on Financial Education (phase I) financial education was integrated into both primary and secondary school curriculum; In 2019, phase II of the National Strategy on Financial Education was launched, to address the gaps identified under phase I; and Through the financial literacy campaigns, the number of financial services accounts designed for children increased to more than 20 compared to only 3 at the beginning of 2013. We strongly believe that the formulation and implementation of these national Strategies have provided a robust framework that facilitates effective stakeholder engagement between the Government, financial sector regulators, financial service providers and the general public. This collaboration has resulted in increased public awareness of the availability of financial products and services across the country, therefore contributing to the increase in overall financial inclusion in Zambia from 37.3% in 2009 to 69.4% in 2020. As financial sector regulators and services providers, we are obliged to disseminate information about the different types of services and products that are available to the public as well as some of the risks that maybe associated with them.
Nevertheless, in our collective endeavour to pump the patient with as many drugs and tests  BIS Review 24/2007  1  we could possibly administer (may be because we could avoid law suits relating to professional negligence by doing so! ), a plethora of new rules and regulations have been churned out and these keep being churned out at regular intervals. But, with all that frenzied activity, the vexed question that keeps on haunting stakeholders is: Will today’s regulations suffice to inoculate companies from crises in the future and keep them healthy? Will these rules help to maintain and sustain investors’ trust in companies? Will these laws and regulations help to stimulate institutions instead of stifling them? Will these efforts actually build trust and confidence in the overall system? Of course, we have to readily admit that if not for the quick responses in the aftermath of Enron and others, the damage could have been too much to bear. The repercussions and loss of confidence could have been too serious to contemplate. But, at the same time, a painful truth has also emerged. i.e., that laws, rules, regulations and Codes, by themselves do not ensure good corporate behavior. However powerful and strong the new vaccines appear to be, however effective the treatment seems to be, however professional and keen the doctor tries to be, new diseases will emerge. Some may be minor. But, ever so often, new strains will occur, that will place the system under severe threat.