History of Southern Africa Association of Accountants

History of the association

The Association was established in 1983 as the Zimbabwe Association of Accounting Technicians (ZAAT) as it was called then. It was formed by the then Consultative Committee of Accounting Boadies (CCASB) as it was then called. CCASB comprised of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Zimbabwe (ICAZ), Zimbabwe Institute of Public Finance and Accountants (now ICPAZ), Institute of Chartered Management Accountants (CIMA) and Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSAZ). CCASB then into the Public Accountants and Auditors Board (PAAB). From the foregoing it goes without saying that SAAA was found on a very strong foundation, it thus prides its self as having a Hybrid DNA. Reacting to the needs and demands of industry, commerce and governments locally and regionally and the demands of its various stakeholders, ZAAT was enhanced and rebranded to the Southern Africa Association of Accountants (SAAA) which represented the regional dimension being pursued. The rebranding culminated into a massive curriculum development and redevelopment.

This 2023 SAAA will be celebrating 40 years in service. Over the years the Association has transformed from the institution training and certifying Accounting Technicians to training and certification of fully fledged Accountants with the accountants being able to register with the Public Accountants and Auditors Board as General Accountants (RGAc). The Accountants can publicly practice as General Accountants upon being issued with a practicing certificate or as General Accountants in business.

To strengthen the SAAA brand and to ensure reaching out to many, the Association embarked on an expansion drive which saw the opening of branches in Mutare, Masvingo, Bulawayo and Gweru locally and examination centres in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.