Have a look at what’s in this SHANA Magazine’s edition 03 EDITORS NOTE
Highlighting the most binge worthy movies and online shows. 21 FASHION FORWARD
Helping you put your best fashion foot forward.
25 BOSS WOMEN
Highlighting the most outstanding women globally 27 BOLD & BEAUTIFUL
Our beauty is bold and beautiful 31 INTERIOR DECOR
We
We’re so honoured to be interviewing one of Zimbabwe’s brightest and best Stella Nkomo 53 THE FOOD FEST
Highlighting the beautiful photography of Noxy Hadebe and the amazing chefs who work with her
Tour the world with and find the best hot spots in Africa
Ed’snote
Ed’s note The end of 2022 is here and the past few years have taken a toll on the vast majority of us. Many small to medium businesses follow the ebbs and flows of their founders and this magazine is no different (for now), SHANA Magazine definitely took a break as the founder took a mental break to deal with CO VID and many other mentally challenging aspects of adulting but we’re back and more resolute than ever. 2022 has seen many transitions including that of two royal, that being figures the passing of King Goodwill Zwelithini and that of Queen Elisabeth, this has ushered in younger royals and we wait to see their core focuses and how they will navigate dealing with the digital world and the new world which is not sure how to feel about monarchs and their role in modern society.
We’re also extremely excited to have one of the most outstanding Zimbabwean leaders on our cover this month, Stella Nkomo. She is not only an award-winning businesswoman but an in spiration to thousands of Zimbabweans both men and women alike and we are honoured that she took her time to chat with us In celebrating women, we also have a phenomenal photographer Noxy Hadebe Duri who’s beautiful images we used for our ‘Food Diaries’ section as well as a go-getter
entrepreneur Selina who’s bou tique ‘Signature Style Selina’ is this month’s ‘Fashion forward’ sponsor, do support their busi nesses and let’s continue to build a network of economic juggernauts. In closing we’d like to celebrate all the businesses advertised in this month’s edition and they are definitely some of the most innovative businesses in Zimba bwe and have set the tone for our Business, Innovation, Events, Education and Travel sections. We cannot wait to see what Santa puts under our bank account “trees” this Christmas. Enjoy, like and share this edi tion with all our love as team SHANA Magazine
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BRANDS ON THE MOVE
In this edition our wish list focuses on 2 iconic brands Zara and MAXHOSA. Zara is a global fast fashion brand, having become almost a house hold name with influencers and women across the world wearing the brand daily it’s hard to have any non-luxury fashion must have’s without including them in the list. Maxhosa is a South African clothing line taking over the fashion world, having been worn by A list celebrities like Trevor Noah, Kelly Rowland, Beyonce and many more MAXHOSA is becoming the face of modern African fashion with a clear infusion of traditional prints and textiles and we couldn’t be happier
Maxhosa skirt
maxhosa.co.za
Wishlist
A new year begins, a new journey unfolds
The roadmap to achievement
In this edition ‘insight section’ we touch a few points to consider when striving to become or stay in the category of high achievers.
by Nicolle Shana
New age wisdom would say that everyone is a high achiever in a way that maybe true but the reality of the world says different Have you ever wondered what some of societies high achievers do to get their goals achieved? Then we’re in the same boat or at least we were until I got tired of wondering and actively started research- ing. One of my first key research findings in con- text to a longitudinal study that explored how high and low achievers differ in self-regulated learning was that “High achievers, irrespective of their prior achievement, showed lower work avoidance, boredom, and hopelessness, and higher strategy use and self-reported quality of strategy use. Whereas low achievers on the paper with higher prior achievement especially showed less joy, higher fear, and lower scores on emotional regulation competencies than the high achievers, low achievers on the paper with lower prior achievement notably displayed a lower level of intrinsic motivation than the high achievers.”sciencedirect.com. In essence high achievers are masters at getting things done quickly and not avoiding even the most chal- lenging of tasks in order to reach their desired goals The study also seemed to suggest that high achievers have a sense of hopefulness and are self motivated, they rarely look at situations
as hopeless and are usually more prepared to find a solution to a problem rather than a problem to every solution.
Another study if The self-worth theory of achievement motivation (Covington & Beery, 1976; Covington, 1984 “assumes that the highest human priority is the search for selfacceptance and that “one’s worth often comes to depend on the ability to achieve competitively”- principlesoflearning wordpress com This is a deeply insightful concept and it connects high achievers with a high sense of worth due to high achievers believeing in their abilities either that of their brilliance or their diligence, their effort how much hard work they put in, their performance and self worth. Although some people are born naturally brilliant in some areas, those who wholeheartedly diligent seem to surpass those who are naturally brilliant but not diligent. As the saying goes ‘hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work’.
Another notable concept is the idea of protecting one’s image at the cost of achievement but “It turns out, if you believe your brain can grow, you behave differently ”-https:// www mindsetworks com To become a high achiever you must believe your mind and ability can grow. You must have a growth mindset and not a fixed mindset “Growth mindset describes a way of viewing challenges and setbacks. People who have a growth mindset believe that even if they struggle with certain skills, their abilities aren’t set in stone They think that with work, their skills can improve over time.
People with the opposite belief that abilities are what they are and won’t change have a fixed mindset. They think their skills won’t improve no matter how hard they try.”-understood.org. Self protective mechanisms come into play when we grow up with the belief that when we fail at a task we believe we are a failure when in actuality we just failed at a task not at life. Am I saying don’t protect yourself to become a high achiever? No i am saying very few failures are catastrophic in life and you must decide that becoming is more valuable than failing and your ability and mind are in continous growth mode and therefore you can still and you WILL be better with the right effort over a clear timeline.
High achievers,irrespective of their prior achievement, showed lower work avoidance, boredom, and hopelessness, and higher strategy use and selfreported quality of strategy use.
Thenew Mentorship
AN OVERVIEW OF THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
We are so excited to showcase the Woman Unlimited Next Gen Mentorship Program that was initiated by our Founder Nicolle Shana, Woman Unlimited Next Gen is a sub-unit of Woman Unlimited which it was developed under to speak to the needs of young women aged 18 to 35 years old This Program was a 1-month structured Mentorship Program under Woman Unlimited which had prestigious speakers from industry speaking to the different women who applied for the Program from around the world. The Program took place every Saturday in person and on-line and was a co-branded event in partnership with the Eight-to-Five Innovation hub powered by Old Mutual The mentees did various personal development projects, updated their social media to become competitive in their fields, worked with peer accountability partners and completed a detailed structured personal development plan amongst other activities. We would like to thank our Mentors Pastor Maureen Shana, Janah Ncube, Nosisa Mazibuko Doe, Buhlebenkosi O Nyathi, Tutsirai Jenje, Nontsikelelo Nzula, and Nicolle Shana The Mentorship Program will be an annual Program with a new Cohort of mentees joining in 2023 To sign up to join the next cohort follow https://www.facebook.com/womanunlimitedzw to stay connected for the application dates, locations and processes.
Fashion section sponsored by Signature Style Selina
Fashion
forward
Trending now
Signature Style Selina
Fashion section sponsored by
BOSS WOMEN Ngozi Okonjo Iweala
“Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; is the first African and female to ever be elected to the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) . She was born 1954 in Southern Nigeria and is a Nigerian-American economist, a world leader and also an inspiration to many the world over She is a Harvard graduate who also holds a PHD from MIT. Dr “Okonjo-Iweala is the founder of Nigeria’s first indigenous opinion-research organization, NOI-Polls. She also founded the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (C-SEA), a development research think-tank based in Abuja, and is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Center for Global Development and the Brookings Institution ”wikipedia com Dr Ngozi Okonjo is truly the definition of accomplished she sits on numerous boards including; “Danone, Standard Chartered Bank, MINDS: Mandela Institute for Development Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, One Campaign, GAVI: Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, Rockefeller Foundation, R4D: Results for Development, ARC: African Risk Capacity and Earthshot Prize plus others. She also previously sat on the Twitter Board of Directors, and stepped down in February, 2021 in connection with her appointment as Director General of the World Trade Organization.” She was also twice Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister becoming the first woman, once again to hold this position
As Finance Minister Dr Ngozi negotiated an 18billion USD debt write-off helping Nigeria have it’s first ever sovereign debt rating, this was “the biggest single debt relief in Africa’s history when they unveiled a plan that will eradicate $31 bn (£17.3 bn) of debts owed by Nigeria within six months ”-theguardian com The plan included strict economic and anti-corruption measures and was hailed by many as an incredible feat and Hilary Benn, the international development secretary, was quoted as saying: “The deal will help to change the lives of millions of people in Nigeria. “It will mean more schools, more teachers and better health services for a country which has the biggest population in Africa “The deal is a major step in bringing about a better future for a country in which seven million children receive no schooling at all and one in five die before their fifth birthday ”-theguardian
com
After her tenure in government, between 2015 to 2016 Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala became a member of the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity which was chaired by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, “and the Eminent Persons Group on Global Financial Governance, which was established by the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Since 2014, she has been cochairing the Global Commission for the Economy and Climate, with Nicholas Stern and Paul Polman. In January 2016, she became the chairelect of the Board of Gavi ”
One of our favourite roles she has held was her role as part of UNESCO’s International Commission on the Futures of Education, which was chaired by Ethiopia’s first female President SahleWork Zewde We love it when female legends partner and break societal glass ceilings together, this just goes to show us that as women we are stronger together and have so much to offer the world when we unite “Since 2019, she has been serving on the High-Level Council on Leadership & Management for Development of the Aspen Management Partnership for Health (AMP Health) In 2020, the International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva appointed her to an external advisory group to provide input on policy challenges Also in 2020, she was appointed by the African Union (AU) as special envoy to solicit international support to help the continent deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In early 2021, Okonjo-Iweala was appointed as co-chair, alongside Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Lawrence Summers, of the High Level Independent Panel (HLIP) on financing the global commons for pandemic preparedness and response, which had been established by the G20. In July 2021, she joined the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics for Developing Countries, cochaired by Tedros Adhanom and David Malpass. In January 2022, Okonjo-Iweala joined The Group of thirty (G30), an independent body of distinguished policymakers from around the world ” sourced: wikipedia.com. We at SHANA Media support this spectacularly out-standing ‘Boss Woman’ and we can’t wait to follow in her footsteps along the path of positive African and International change for a better future, today!
BOLD& a.
ONE & DONE EVERYDAY
CREAM WITH SPF 40.
1 7 fl oz | 50 ml | $38 00usd
“A 4-in-1 lightweight daily moisturizer with a broad Spectrum SPF 40 that replaces daily sunscreen, moisturizer, serum and primer. Made with a clean, mineral-based formula to suit all skin tones from the lightest to the darkest without leaving a white cast.
Credit: https://relevantskin.com/
Karite Creme Corps
Hydrating Body Cream:
“Karite’s dermatologist-created Creme Corps Hydrating Body Cream features raw, unrefined shea but- ter sourced from Ghana, organic unrefined coconut oil, sunflower seed oil and an antioxidant-rich blend of rosemary and West African rooibos. Featuring a unique technology that eliminates the need for irri- tating chemicals, our formula helps soothe and re- pair even the driest, most sensitive skin. This intense- ly hydrating body cream is sustainably sourced and supports the livelihood of rural African women and their communities ”
Credit: thedetoxmarket.com/
Beautiful
MELANIN OWNERSHIP!
In this edition we’re sharing a few beauty brands owned by women of colour, we’re talking about brands from all the way in Ghana to the United States of America.
Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum with Niacinamide and Vitamin C
“Eadem’s Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum is a three-in-one gel with a milky texture designed to quickly fade marks caused by acne, inflammation, and bug bites. What sets this product apart from others like it is the fact that it was formulated specifically for skin of colour by women of colour. Founders Marie Kouadio Amouzame and Alice Lin Glover worked with a dermatologist and chemist, who are all women of colour, to create a skin care product that targets hyperpigmentation on melanated skin They call it “Smart Melanin Beauty,” and people are paying attention.”
Credit: productnation.co
54 Thrones AFRICAN Beauty
Butter- In- tensive Dry Skin Treatment
“A uniquely scented hand-and-body treatment butter formulated to intensely hydrate and moisturize dry cracked skin
Highlighted Ingredients: - Shea Butter: Intensely rich, creamy moisturizer, excellent for dry, cracked skin. - Baobab Oil: Excellent for softening skin and maintaining a healthy skin barrier - Jojoba Oil: Lightweight, vitamin-rich, penetrates deep to nourish and protect skin.”
Credit: sephora com/
INTERIOR DECO
The dinnerware
1. MR PRICE HOME 16 Piece Stoneware Dinner Set R459.99 |mrphome co za
4
3. LUIGI BORMIOLI BACH WHISKEY SET 5PC R 799.00 | home.co.za
3. RATTAN & CANE AKAMANZI $550.00 | elitezim com
AFRICAN BIZNESS
The current African business
2%
Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is estimated at 4 percent in 2021, up from a con traction in economic activity of 2 percent in 2020 ” worldbank org
3.6%
with multiple (and new) shocks, high volatility, and uncertainty The economy is set to expand by 3 6 percent in 2022, down from 4 percent in 2021, as it struggles to pick up momentum amid a slowdown in global economic activity, continued supply constraints, outbreaks of new coronavirus variants, high inflation, and rising financial risks due to high and increasingly vulnerable debt levels.”. worldbank.org
4.2%
The current African business landscape, is filled with risk and adversity but it is also filled with great opportunity or dare we say the greatest opportunity for future investments in the world today. Here a few things to take note of in today’s African business climate.
1 billion 1.2 billion
“Sub-Saharan Africa, home to more than 1 billion people, half of whom will be under 25 years old by 2050.”. worldbank org
“With the world’s largest free trade area and a 1 2 billion- person market, the continent is creating an entirely new development path, harness- ing the potential of its re- sources and people..”. worldbank.org
In total, we expect annual spending by African consumers and businesses to reach $6.66 trillion by 2030, up from $4 trillion in 2015. - brookings.edu
“Economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to grow at 3 9 percent and 4.2 per cent in 2023 and 2024, respectively. A recov ery in global demand is expected in 2023 as most of the shocks dragging down the glob al economy are expected to dissipate ” world bank.org 36
Poor infrastructure is one of the key impediments to investment and growth in Africa For exam- ple, nearly 600 million Africans lack access to the electricity grid. But while Africa’s infrastructure still lags behind that of other developing regions, significant progress has been made: Africa’s annual investment in infrastructure has doubled to around $80 billion a year since the beginning of this century. That represents a big opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs with the imagination to help solve Africa’s infrastructure challenges.brookings.edu
D.A.R.E
DESIRE. ACTION. RESULT. ELEVATE
THE POWER OF DESIRE & ACTION
by Nontsikelelo Nzula
As the curtain closes at the end of each year, the sacred power of hope fills the air as we aspire to see better versions of ourselves in the opening of the next. This applies to our physical health too As we secretly wish for a healthier life, most of us are guilty of not setting goals for what we want to see. A study by Reliable Plant, records that only 20 percent of people have goals, and of the 20 percent only 30 percent of them succeed. Let’s bring that into perspective. Out of a hundred people, only 20 have goals, and from the 20 people, only 6 will achieve their goals I had to read this twice As I read it the second time I was equally dumbfounded at how few of us are intentional about what we want to see or do about our current health status that we are unhappy with Possibly, you may not have called your desires for your physical health “goals”, but I would like to believe that at some point in your life the following thoughts have crossed your mind, “lose weight”, “be fit”, “eat healthy”, “get a six pack”, “tone up” “walk” and “drink more water”. This is an indicator that where you are is not where you want to be So let’s take time to explore how to get yourself where you want to be whenever you choose to begin. I’ve coined a term that helps me, and I hope that it works for you too. The term is D A R E (Desire Action Result Elevate) Let’s
take a moment to cultivate desire. Envision what your ideal fitness and nutrition may look like. This could be a version of the 5 am club life “You wake up as soon your alarm goes off at 5 am, put on your workout clothes, brush your teeth and head out for a run/ walk or session in the gym. Come back home have a serving of fruit, pack your lunch head to work, and come back to make a wholesome meal or eat your pre-packed dinner”. I definitely am not a morning person so my version would have my workout in the evenings. Whatever your preference take a moment to imagine it Put in all the details, what it feels like, what would you wear?, what would it smell like and what would your surroundings look like. What music or motivational message would you listen to? Now let’s get back to making that happen.
Our second step is action, what do you need to do? Simple, you need to get started If you have the resources, pay for membership at the gym of your choice, if you would like you can add a personal trainer to your package. If perhaps you are not keen on the gym the internet is your friend There is a plethora of guides available on YouTube for free, be clear about what you want to achieve and subscribe to a channel that will assist you with that. Be sure to do your homework of the most recom-
mended. If all the above are not for you, the most ancient yet effective way to stay fit, you guessed it, is walking, Walking is underrated yet studies show that walking has tremendous benefits It burns calories, strengthens the heart, can reduce blood sugar, alleviate joint pain, it boosts immune function, just to mention a few. Whatever path you take your greatest commitment should be to remain consistent, only then will get the result you desire Once you get the results you desire, there is nothing to stop you from elevating your goals. Remember all you need to do now is get started.and flavored oats at the store, but it is best to avoid these and make your own Store-bought oats are often high in added sugars and other unhealthy ingredients.” healthline.com
Most cereals are highly processed and have high sugar concentrations in them which includes food colouring etc although these give a sugar rush it’s definitely not a healthy one and sees you crash during the day so switch it up and get a natural sugar high with honey and get your fiber from the oats. There’s an awesome opportunity to get back on the healthy wagon as the new year gets started.
iMotor
THIS MONTH ON iMOTOR
We have a look at the diverse car options a modern city.
Mini Cooper (2019)
We love a fun small sporty car with “a brisk 6.2-second zero-to-60-mph and a 134-hp turbocharged three-cylinder; the sportier S has a 189-hp turbo 2 0liter four-cylinder. The lineup is highly customizable and seriously fun to drive; all models come with Mini’s trademark go-kart handling” which is definitely a fun ride for an area with great roads but slightly chaotic for imperfect roads. Outside of the cute factor the base price starts at $22,750usd dependent on the country.
THE
THE VIP EXPERIENCE
PPorsche Panamera Turbo (2017) Starting at a base price of $147,950usd and Ex- ecutive price of $161,050usd Porsche is anything but ordinary. “The Panamera Turbo comes with a twinturbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that delivers 550 horsepower and 567 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels courtesy of standard all-wheel drive. Capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.0 seconds and estimated top speed of 190 mph” caranddriver.com the Por- she Panamera Turbo is a dare-devils dream.
sWe’re honoured for our main article to be about the spectacular Stella Nkomo a true marketer, strategist and creative at heart. Stella is one of Zimbabwe’s top 50 influential people and sits on the boards of numerous high impact businesses, but she’s not just a business and community leader she’s also a woman of prayer, a mentor to many and an inspiration to thousands.
interview by editor Nicolle Shana
Who is Stella Nkomo?
Stella is a passionate woman of excellence who loves unconditionally and above all is a woman of prayer Professionally, she is a business executive, transformational and dynamic leader who is also a Chartered marketer and events specialist. She is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer for the ZITF Company as well as the Head of Marketing, Sales and PR. She is an award winning marketer and thought leader with 15 years’ experience in strategy management, business planning, events management as well as building and promotion of brands. She is also a brand management guru who focuses on customer centric approaches, pushing for revenue growth that ultimately lead(s) to business growth and profitability. She is the reigning Top National Marketer of the Year (Executive) 2022 in recognition of her efforts in spearheading winning marketing campaigns for ZITF. As an accomplished Events Manager and Coordinator, she has been instrumental in making sure that the ZITF Company’s exhibitions and events remain the biggest and most effective platforms for business growth in the country.
A recipient of various industry awards in recognition for her business acumen and marketing prowess, in addition to being the Top National Marketer (recognised by Marketers Association
Zimbabwe), she was recognised by the Institute of Public Relations & AMP; Communication Zimbabwe as one of Zimbabwe’s Influential Women and Industry Innovators in PR and Communication, 2022. She was also recognised as one of Zimbabwe’s 50 Most Inspirational Women (2020-21) by the Institute of Corporate Directors Zimbabwe in association with Women Corporate Directors Network. She was also named as one of Bulawayo’s 10 Most Outstanding Women (2020 -2021) by GirlPowerZW in association with Culture Fund She was awarded the Southern Region and National Customer Service Excellence Manager of the Year award (2014) by the Zimbabwe Institute of Management. In 2020, she was also selected for the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the USA for the Multi Regional Project on Trade Policy Issues and their impact on the global economy. She is a national leader, exercising the roles of;
1. ZESA Holdings Board Member and Non-Executive Director, 2. Trade Measures Board Member,
3. Gwanda State University Councillor, 4. Vice President for the CZI Matabeleland Chamber and 5. Chairperson of the Marketers Association Zimbabwe Southern Region Committee. What occupation did you want to be part of as a child? Were you always a creative at heart or is
this something you stumbled across?
Initially, I wanted to be an air hostess (I always wanted to fly so much as a child, and this looked like an easier route!) and then later I imagined myself being a pilot - I suppose that’s how I became an aviation and space fanatic. Actually, God is full of humour; my best friend is a pilot! However, later I found my passion in marketing and I have never looked back. I was quick to model myself as a thought leader in this space, although my desire was to fulfil a greater purpose premised on transforming organisations and people’s lives in general, a mandate that I am now executing. I have always been a creative person who pays attention to detail in everything that I do. I always want to leave an indelible mark wherever I am, which then forces me to always be creative. Creativity is what fuels change and transformation in the society We would not have all these innovations if we did not have creative minds I am thankful to God for giving me a spirit of creativity and the wisdom to use it innovatively for the betterment of the various organisations I am associated with.
As Deputy CEO of ZITF what does your day-today job entail?
My day-to-day job is to assist the Chief Executive Officer in providing strategic leadership and direction to the organization. This is carried out in
the form of guidance and supervision of all departments to enable them to achieve their set targets as they align with the overall organization’s vision and mission so that shareholder business objectives are realized and maximum return on investment is achieved I also Head the Marketing, Sales and PR function of the Company where my job is to establish, develop, manage and co-ordinate ZITF Company marketing, business development, sales and public relations strategies in line with the Company strategy.
In terms of daily operations; no one day looks like the other – one day you will find me sitting in the Board and talking strategy, or in an evaluation committee planning for the purchase of new conferencing equipment. On another afternoon I could be inspecting a
venue to ensure that it is up to spec for our events, or approving the marketing campaign for one of our numerous products and services
What was your first day on the job like?
Surprisingly, for me, it was like any other day at work Yes, the title had changed and obviously I was excited as so many colleagues and industry leaders wished me well in my new position, but the fundamentals of my roles and responsibilities were still the same. Outside ZITF, I was already sitting on various boards and committees that not only gave me almost similar challenges and experiences but also the confidence to navigate the C-Suite. So it was a natural progression that I had already imagined and prepared for, for quite sometime. However, I had an opportunity to re-
flect on what this new title means, that as a leader it is not about a title, but impact, influence and inspiration. It means my behaviour must inspire, firstly the ZITF family and secondly, the community at large. I have to care more, love more and do more for people. It also means that I am expected to have a clear vision, mission and commitment to integrity that will guide me in everything that I do. Your role is a very senior role, do you find a number of women in similar senior roles in Zimbabwe and what is the effect of that?
Of course, great strides have been achieved in ensuring that more and more women do take up leadership spaces in the country. What is also fantastic to watch is that at policy level, government has taken a deliberate
effort to include women in decision-making roles. However, I still believe that we have to do more as a society to empower women; starting at grassroots levels when young girls are making choices. They should be empowered to view themselves as a vital cog in the development of their nation. Remember, little girls with dreams become women with vision So we need to constantly reflect on what more should be done to break societal barriers that have continued to promote gender bias and inequality. I think the time is now for us to challenge the status quo and make appropriate campaigns and interventions We simply need more women at the highest level(s)! What are some of the key lessons you’ve learnt in regards to networking over your work tenure?
Porter Gale, the author of, “Your Network is your Net Worth,” says, ‘Your social capital, or your ability to build a network of authentic personal and professional relationships, not your financial capital, is the most important asset in your portfolio.” I agree with the author as no man is an island. We all need a strong network of industry colleagues, business partners and acquaintances to help us achieve our goals. Networking is great for career development and personal growth but it is not the end-all and be-all of professional success. Yes, network, build those connections, but understand that networking can never be a substitute for hard work. Hard work let’s you stay
in the rooms whose doors are opened for you by your networks There is need for constant balance between hard work and networking.
In 5 years’ time what do you hope to have accomplished at ZITF? I hope to have fulfilled my role in achieving the goals tabled in our corporate strategy, first and foremost. I am excited and look forward to working together with my supportive Board and CEO, and the entire ZITF family to make sure that we position ourselves strategically as a notable and leading Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) player in the country. Do you have any side projects that you’re currently working on? Whether that be volunteering your time or an extra source of income? Apart from my work at ZITF, I serve on various public and private sector boards and committees, some of which I have already mentioned. I have a passion for knowledge sharing so I also do part time lecturing at a local university as well as consulting on marketing and branding strategies for companies wishing to position themselves favourably in the market. I also mentor young women under the Jewels in Pebbles programme whose mission is to develop a well-grounded young professional woman who is *not afraid to venture into new territories. I occasionally volunteer my time and resources for causes that are close to my heart such as the empowerment of the girl
child. To compliment my income, I also have small businesses that I am running
How do you find the time to juggle such a senior role and your other ventures or just your personal life? (Do you work with a team, do you schedule time, etc ) I would like to think of myself as a highly organised individual. I plan everything and always try to have control over as many things in my life as I can, the most important one being how I spend my TIME. I have found that it is easier to strike a certain level of balance when I am intentional about how I spend my time. My family and my team are very pivotal in helping maintain as much balance as possible. However, I must say, absolute balance is a bit of an illusion. We can have everything, but never in perfect equal amounts at the same time, and I think that is just a part of life. It all comes down to a constant balancing act.
What’s one of your favourite things about, being you?
I always try to look at the bright side of everything in life. That is my drive, which is what keeps me going no matter what. When life gives me lemons, I will do everything in my power to make the best lemonade out of them. I will always find a way around tough situations because I don’t believe in accepting defeat but in manoeuvring difficult circumstances with grace.
That is something I can only do if I maintain a positive energy. I believe in endless possibilities; God blessed humanity with the rare ability to solve any and all problems in the universe. Please name one hard life lesson you’ve had to learn and what were your key takeaways from it?
The world does not owe you anything and life is generally unfair so the onus is always on you to make the most of the cards you have been dealt Nothing in this world is given on a silver platter, but one has to keep on pushing and reaching for greater heights Just keep working hard and doing what is best for you. Eventually, you will reap the rewards when your turn comes. If you weren’t doing what you’re doing now in terms of work what would you be doing?
I believe I would be a community developer working with the youth, especially young women, to better their lives and the lives of those around them. Women and youth empowerment is one of my passions and I do hope that in the near future, I will be able to engage in extensive community development work that is premised on women and youth empowerment.
Lastly, we ask all our amazing cover stars this question, what advice would you give your younger 18 year old self?
I will always find a wayaround toughsituations because I don’t believe in accepting defeat.
Never stop learning and working hard to reach your full potential. There is no limit to how far you can go in achieving your dreams Your mind is your greatest limit so feed it positive, encouraging thoughts. Do not forget the 3Ds and E (Diligence, Discipline, Dedication and Excellence). Those will take you further than any circumstance you may find yourself in You are the writer of your story and you have God backing you up. In everything you do, dare to win A winner inspires, a winner is unstoppable, and a winner explores; a winner is about possibilities. Love God, His people and the world; and all the good you put out will come back to you tenfold. <end of interview> Many thanks to our phenomenal cover star Stella Nkomo for this awesome interview.
TERRESTRIAL INNOVATION
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind ” a quote by Neil Armstrong the first man who was allegedly on the moon and yes that is allegedly for all my conspiracy theory tribe. For many years non-African countries have been far ahead of the African continent when it comes to the race for outer space but now African governments are investing and they’re investing big. It is said that “the African space industry was valued at 19 49 billion USD in 2021 This number is expected to grow by 16.16% to 22.64 billion USD by 2026 The African space economy employs a workforce of over 19,000 people, with the government being the biggest employer having 11,000 staff members ” spacewatch.global
Countries like South Africa were amongst the first to jump in on the terrestrial action and while Tunisia was the “sixth African country to manufacture a satellite, launching Africa’s 43rd into orbit Challenge 1, built by Tunisian company Telnet Holding, was launched from Kazakhstan on board a Russian Soyuz 2 rocket ” africanbusiness.co.za, there is still an optimistic predicition that there will be 110 African-owned satellites launched by 2024, with Egypt being the headquarers under the African Union Commission’s African
Space Policy which was officiated in 2017. Terms like remote sensing which is ‘scanning of the earth by satellite or highflying aircraft in order to obtain information about it’ are key to know when it comes to how Africa will use it’s satellites as this provides critical data to help us prevent floods, natural disasters and pro-actively also scenario plan our resources and ultimately attract global investors on more favourable terms for African governments “African nations allocated a total of USD 534.9 million for space programmes in 2022. The report states that this means a 2.24% increase from the revised USD 523 2 million in 2021 The connectivity gap on the continent is expected to be bridged via satellite communications. Meanwhile, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) services and satellite TV remain the most significant contributors to Africa’s space economy.”spacewatch. global. “After the launch of Rwanda’s first low altitude satellite, Icyerekezo, in 2019, schools outside the reach of terrestrial broadband gained access to satellite internet. More remote schools and communities in other parts of the continent could follow as more satellites go up.” africanbusiness.co.za. Stories like the launch of the Rwandan satellite highlight why our governments are
prioritizing terrestrial/space related innovation and how it can help keep our youth competitive in the future when it comes to employment and income generating innovation.
“The first African satellite, SunSat-1, was launched to space by South Africa in 1999, the industry has accelerated with hundreds of millions USD invested into it. A total of 20 satellites have been launched by African states since 2016 totaling 41 satellites Egypt leads the way with nine launched satellites, followed by South Africa with eight, Algeria with seven, Nigeria with six, and Morocco with three. Ghana, Sudan, Ethiopia, Angola, Kenya, Rwanda and Mauritius complete the list Satellites have also been launched by private telecommunications companies in Africa so the innovation does not revolve strictly around governments, which allows private companies to join the space toursim race like Tesla and Amazon in the United States in the very near future it seems. I’m looking forward to smaller African countries like my own Zimbabwe launching their first satellite and the enoromous opportunities that will come from the space economy when we do, until then we are proud to celebrate the amazing work being done in this field by amazing Africans changing the continent.
FOOD DIARIES
We love a good full course meal menu and not just restaurant style cooking but fun, quick and easy meals you can prepare at home. Thank you to Noxy Hadebe Duri for all the food photography and to the amazing chefs who helped her execute these dishes.
CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
INGREDIENTS:
240g unsalted butter, melted and cooled 30ml veg oil
1 1/4 cups (260g) white sugar
1 cup (/200g) packed old fashioned brown sugar. 4 (57g each) large eggs, at room temperature.
1 tablespoon (15ml) pure vanilla extract.
3/4 teaspoon salt.
1 cup (130g) all-purpose flour.
1 cup (100g) good quality, unsweetened cocoa powder.
150g roughly chopped chocolate or large chocolate chips
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
2. Lightly grease an 8x12-inch baking pan* with cooking oil spray. Line with parchment paper (or baking paper); set aside.
3.Combine melted butter, oil and sugars together in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk well to combine. Add the eggs and vanilla; beat until lighter in colour.
4 Sift in flour, cocoa powder and salt Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until JUST combined (do NOT over beat as doing so well affect the texture of your brownies).
5.Fold in 3/4 of the chocolate pieces. Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing the top out evenly, and top with remaining chocolate pieces.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes for just under-done brownies (fudgier texture) or until the centre of the brownies no longer jiggles and is JUST set to the touch OR 35-40 minutes if you like your brownies well set and firm
NOTE:
Brownies will continue baking and set in the hot pan out of the oven. If testing with a toothpick, the toothpick should come out dirty for fudgetextured brownies. After 15-20 minutes, carefully remove them out of the pan and allow to cool to room temperature before slicing into 16 brownies. They set while they cool, then enjoy.
ICE CREAM COOKIES
8 tablespoons of salted butter
1/2 cup white sugar (I like to use raw cane sugar with a coarser texture)
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar. 1 teaspoon vanilla.
1 egg.
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour.
1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
1/4 teaspoon salt (but I always add a little extra)
3/4 cup chocolate chips (I use a combination of chocolate chips and chocolate chunks).
INSTRUCTIONS
1 Turn the oven on to 180 degrees Put the butter in the oven in a stainless steel or glass bowl as it’s preheating until about one third to one half of the butter is melted. Do not melt more than half of the butter.
2. Turn the oven off. Let the butter come back to room temperature for at least 30 minutes – it doesn’t have to harden completely but it should be a soft solid
3. Add the sugar and vanilla. Cream with electric mixers until well mixed and lightly fluffy. Add the eggs and beat until incorporated.
4. Measure in the flour, baking soda, and salt You can do this in a separate bowl, but I usually just dump it all into the mixing bowl Slowly mix with the elec- tric mixer on low speed, scrap- ing the sides, until all the flour is incorporated. If the dough sticks to the sides of the bowl and looks wet, add one table- spoon of extra flour at a time until the dough feels dry and sticks together in one large ball Too much flour will make the cookie stiff, so stop adding flour right when the dough starts to take on that dry look and feel. Stir in the chocolate chips with a wooden spoon. 5. Preheat the oven to 180 de- grees. Roll 1/4 cup dough into high, round balls with chocolate chips at the top Place on a baking sheet a few inches apart and bake for about 9 minutes. You want to take them out when they are puffy and just a tiny bit brown on the tops and edges. Let stand for a few min- utes – they will lose a little of their puffiness but they should stay thick and hold together well
Fixins:
20 fajita-sized flour tortillas 18 hard taco shells. 1 pound Cheddar-Jack cheese, grated. 15 Roma tomatoes, diced 1 head green leaf lettuce, shred- ded.
CHICKEN BREAST FEAST
INGREDIENTS
4 cups water
1 teaspon salt.
1 cup polenta
4 tablespoons butter.
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan.
2 Chicken breast
Cajun spice.
Thyme sprig.
1 tblspn chopped Garlic
3tblspn Cooking Oil.
1 punnet button mushroom
Small Cherry tomato punnet
Balsamic vinegar.
1 Bring water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan and pour polenta slowly into the water. Stir constantly using whisk or wooden spoon until there are no lumps.
2 Reduce heat to low and simmer stirring often, until polenta starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Polenta mixture should still be slightly loose Cover and cook for 30 minutes, whisking every 5 to 6 minutes When polenta is too thick to whisk, stir with a wooden spoon. Polenta is done when texture is creamy and the grains are tender Turn off heat and gently stir 2 tablespoons butter into polenta until butter partially melts; mix 1/3cup parmesan cheese into polenta until cheese has melted. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes to thicken.
3. Meanwhile heat tablespoon butter and oil in a pan and fry cajun marinated chicken on both sides medium heat until golden and finish off in the oven for 7 minutes @ 180dgrees. Remove breast from
oven and set aside.
4 In the same pan used to fry chicken heat pan add 1 tablespoon butter and oil and fry garlic and thyme for a minute on medium heat add the mushroom and continue frying for a furtparmesan minutes and remove from heat.
*Ready to serve*
Balsamic cherry tomatoes (optional)
:-heat oil, fry garlic and thyme for a minute add cherry tomato fry on high heat until tomatoes blister and squeeze 2tspn balsamic. Add salt to taste and serve
NEWS:INDABA
THE ROYAL ZULU NATION A NEW ERA
The passing of a great King the beginning of a new era
The Royal family and the Zulu nation grieved the loss of a great King, “King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu who was born in July 1948 at Nongoma, Natal (now KwaZulu-NatalKZN) He was the eldest son of King Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon and his sec- ond wife, Queen Thomo and was installed as the eighth Mon- arch of the Zulus at a traditional ceremony at Nongoma on 3 De- cember 1971, attended by 20 000 people ” wikipedia His oldest son with the late former Queen Regent Queen Mantfombi (Dlamini) Zulu has been officially appointed as the new Zulu King of the Zulu nation, although the majority of the Zulu nation eagerly cel- ebrated this there was much contestation from some in the royal family which led to legal appeals to stop his coronation and even involved him fleeing to Eswatini to his uncle the King Mswati III to save his life. On his return he was crowned King and has now ac- tively taken up the position even vowing to fight GBV and lead the Zulu nation to a prosperous and united future
THE RISE OF A NEW BRITISH ROYAL ERA
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. She died peacefully on a Thursday afternoon at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the sum- mer The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and wit- nessed enormous social change Her son King Charles III said the death of his beloved mother was a “moment of great sadness” for him and his family and that her loss would be “deeply felt” around the world. Queen Elizabeth II’s tenure as head of state spanned post- war austerity, the transition from empire to Common- wealth, the end of the Cold War and the UK’s entry into - and withdrawal from - the European Union Her reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Ms Truss, born 101 years later in 1975.
Zimbabwe becomes first country in Africa to approve HIV prevention drug
“Zimbabwe has approved the use of long-acting inject- able cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as pre-exposure prophylax- is (PrEP) for HIV prevention, recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) earlier this year making it the first African nation and third in the world to do so Reg- ulators in the United States and Australia have already backed the use of the drug. “CAB-LA may be offered to people at substantial risk of HIV acquisition as part of comprehensive HIV prevention approaches,” the WHO had previously indicated. In July, the global health agency recommended the drug saying that it is highly effective at reducing the transmission risk among people at most risk of contracting HIV ” information source wionews.com
