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Contents
P.12
P.16
P.22
P.42
P.52
P.56
Profiles P.12 P.16 P.21 P.22 P.42 P.52 P.56 P.57
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Pfungwa Serima Cpt. Elizabeth P. Simbi Cpt. Chipo Matimba Michele Mathison ZAA UK Anashe Media Group Willard Katsande Tendai Ndoro
Regulars P.10 Editorial P.27 Invest Zimbabwe P.29 International Business P.31 An African Perspective P.33 Governance Watch P.35 Letter of the Law P.37 Doctor’s Note P.48 Ones to Watch
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Meet our Contributors
Dr. Sindi van Zyl
Dr. Sindisiwe van Zyl is a medical doctor with a passion for Primary Health Care and a special interest in HIV. With a mission to save lives, she uses social media and digital technology to share healthrelated knowledge and as a health communicator shares health information in a way that is easy-to-understand on various social media platforms. She is in private practice at Pulse Zuzimpilo Clinic in the Johannesburg CBD. She is also a contributor in Bona Magazine and on health24.com
Janah Ncube
Nqobizitha Mlilo
Janah is a Zimbabwean social entrepreneur and champion for the poor and marginalised in Africa. She has been working with others to empower African citizens to realise their right to participate in governance and developmental matters. She has worked in executive and senior management roles in the last 15 years with a particular focus on Africa’s regional integration, fighting poverty and injustice, women’s rights with organisations such as the SADC Secretariat, Oxfam, the CCP-AU, Women in Politics Support Unit amongst others.
Nqobizitha is an Advocate at Law practicing for his own account. He also works regularly with firm of Attorneys, Mdluli Attorneys Inc. in Johannesburg which he co-founded. He holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Cape Town as well as a Masters in Fundamental Human Rights Law from the University of Johannesburg. He is currently studying for a Doctorate in Law. He has a keen interest in general civil and commercial litigation as well as litigation in public law which includes criminal law, family law, constitutional and labour law.
Publisher EnRich Media & Communications (Pty) Ltd P.O. Box 2068 Rivonia, Johannesburg, RSA Tel: +27 11 028 6929 Fax: +27 86 614 1932 info@thezimbabweachiever.com www.thezimbabweachiever.com Online Editor Zanele Ndlovu Design Katlego Moroane Photography Lwazi Mhlanga Photography www. lwaziphotography.com Beryl Digital Concepts Instagram @BerlyConcepts Research Nicolle Shana Chief Editor Richard Moyo Issue contributors Ray Chipendo (South Africa) Janah Ncube (Kenya) Karin Alexander (South Africa) Thandi Ngwenya (Zimbabwe) Dr. Sindi van Zyl (South Africa) Lindelwe Lesley Ndlovu (France) Nqobizitha Mlilo (South Africa) Advertising Enquiries editor@thezimbabweachiever.com
Ray Chipendo
Lindelwe L Ndlovu
Ray is Research Head at Emergent Research. He has over 8 years’ experience in investment research and graduated with an honours in Economics from the University of Zimbabwe before receiving an MBA from GIBS Business School in Johannesburg. He is a regular contributor to financial print and digital media on financial markets and investments.
Lesley is a Zimbabwe born international financier based in Paris. He has worked in institutional investment management for over a decade, managing global multi-asset portfolios in Bermuda, Singapore and Paris. Lesley is a graduate of INSEAD in France, a CFA charter holder and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
Thandi Ngwenya
Karin Alexander
Karin is a development professional and political analyst. A Zimbabwean Rhodes Scholar with an MPhil in Development Studies from Oxford and an undergraduate degree from Harvard University, her areas of specialisation include democratisation, governance, and political economy. Karin has eleven years of experience in development, nine within the NGO sector and two as an independent consultant.
Thandi is the Managing Consultant of 3BL Consultancy, a strategy and advisory services firm based in Harare, servicing clients in both the public and private sectors. More recently, Thandi has been leading a multi-skilled team on Economic Empowerment and Financial Inclusion initiatives amongst previously the marginalised. She holds an MBA (Strathclyde Business School) and a Bachelor of Commerce honours degree. Her business development career spanning over 20 years, has seen her manage challenging projects across many African countries in the areas of IT, hospitality and corporate finance.
To subscribe or contribute Email: info@thezimbabweachiever.com Fax: +27 86 614 1932 All rights reserved. Excepts may be used long as the publication is credited as the source therein. Longer versions of our content may only be used upon written consent from the Publisher. Neither the Publisher nor Editor accept any responsibility for any information from edition writers and/ or contributors. Whilst we have taken all due care in preparing this publication, the Publisher and Editor do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The Editor retains the right to edit all contributions and the views expressed by edition writers and/ or contributors are not necessarily the views of the Publisher and Editor. Advertisers are responsible for their own material and content submissions. © 2016 - TheZimbabweAchiever.Com thezimbabweachiever.com
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Editor’s Note Africa Rising...
i
read an article recently, in the Business Times (SA), entitled: ‘Africa’s growth model overdue for change’. The article, essentially outlined some of the challenges faced by an African continent. The same has been touted as ‘the new frontier’ — with a young population and some of the fastest growing economies in the world. The authors (Ira Kalish and Martyn Davies), highlight some of the challenges faced by emerging markets including stock market volatility in China, sinking commodity prices and declining values of currencies), all playing their part in creating a ‘sense of crisis’. Our extraction industry dependent and oil-propelled economies face pressure from ‘the end of the commodity super cycle’ and plunging oil prices (which have since begun a somewhat muted ascendance). Kalish and Davies (2016) essentially argue that Africa needs to ‘shake off tired ideologies’ and ‘invest in human capital’ because ‘sustainable growth can only come from economies that are driven by ideas rather than resources.’ I found this argument compelling and stimulating, both from a broader African and in particular, Zimbabwean perspective. The development of human capital is perhaps our greatest opportunity and the time to do so is arguably now. Zimbabwe has and continues to produce some of the ‘greatest minds’ across multiple disciplines including financial services, IT, academia and the arts. Several economies and communities around the world have immensely benefited from the contributions of the Zimbabwean acumen (intellect/ expertise) and talent that they host. The time, I believe, has come for us to collectively ditch traditional ways of thinking and adopt a more ‘ideas driven growth path’, or at least engage in conversations around the concept. This mirrors the developments in
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Asian economies (exemplified by Japan and South Korea), which continue to churn out some of the most innovative companies globally, as a result. Despite some well documented challenges (e.g. infrastructure development; a lack of good governance; corruption; and the triple-threat of unemployment, poverty and inequality), Africa can and will surmount them, but only if we invest sufficiently in our human capital. Part of the motivation for the establishment of this publication was for the stimulation of a conversation on how we can tap into some critical thinking from Great Zimbabweans, both at home and abroad. Some of that critical thinking will undoubtedly come through this publication. As such, we are excited to have (and to share) this platform at this opportune moment. As we look at Zimbabwe, within the context of ‘Africa Rising’, some of our well-regarded contributors have weighed in on some of the identified challenges and the corresponding opportunities. The investment outlook of 2016 in Zimbabwe, for example, is presented in this issue. The Issue also contains a discussion around the costs and value (at a macro level), of corruption and good governance. Also tackled in this Issue is the advent of one of the central themes from the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos in January 2016: the ‘fourth industrial revolution’. This ‘revolution’, according to the WEF discussions, speaks to the rise and role (within the context of modern society) of IT in the workplace. Increased automation, it was/is argued, has begun to cause major disruption in almost every industry and may soon dominate and transform the workplace as we know it.
We are deeply honoured to have our first lot of the Great Zimbabweans featured in this Issue. The publication had the honour and pleasure of speaking to these amazing men and women who continue to fly high the mighty flag, inspiring many along the way. We tell their stories, giving some neverbefore-shared and in depth brief insights into their personal journeys. Prepare to be inspired, ‘blown away’ even. In this maiden Issue, we also introduce the publication and create a setting for subsequent issues. We hope that this will stimulate conversation but most importantly, action, all geared towards an enriched Zimbabwe and Africa. In a speech in 1963, John F. Kennedy (Former US President) said, ‘…a rising tide lifts all boats’. Zimbabwe’s rise is Africa’s rise and Africa’s rise is Zimbabwe’s rise. May the rising tide of one inevitably lift that of the other! A warm African welcome to all our readers and advertisers to, our inaugural Issue. We truly appreciate you all and look forward to your input and feedback on how we can make this a great publication, stimulating ideas for progress. Happy reading… Richard, Editor.
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A 21st Century African Business In Conversation with Metrofile Holdings CEO Pfungwa Serima heZimbabweAchiever.Com had the privilege of sharing moments with a highly regarded business leader and continental IT figure who continues to carve his own path and has been described by some publications as a ‘calculated mover’. Many will know Pfungwa Serima for being the first black Managing Director of Microsoft in South Africa but his accomplishments run much deeper than this extraordinary feat and we had the opportunity to be in conversation with him for this maiden issue. With a dual degree in Business Studies and Computer Science from the University of Zimbabwe, Serima’s career began in government, where he worked as a systems analyst while he lectured part-time at the university. It wasn’t too long before he moved over to the private sector, joining NCR and then taking up a senior management position at Accenture, which saw him migrate to South Africa in 1998. Serima was in his late 30s and CEO of Accenture Technology Solutions when Microsoft approached him to head its Services Group in 2004. Needless to say that he didn’t remain in that role for too long, later becoming the Managing Director of the South African operation before joining another IT giant, SAP, where he rose to be the Group CE for SAP Africa and ultimately Chairman of its Board. Today he is the CEO of Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed records and information giant, Metrofile Holdings Ltd, which recently acquired an operation in Botswana and already operates in Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia and the United Arab Emirates. Metrofile is a holding company for entities that include Cleat Data, Info Vault, CSX and Global Continuity, having
been a force in the industry for over 20 years, offering end-to-end information management services. As group CE, Serima’ provides strategic direction to the business and is also spearheading its expansion plans into the continent, with a current focus on West Africa, mentioning in our interview that they have recently received inquiries from Southern Africa and Zimbabwe in particular. On what it takes to do business in Africa, his view is, “First of all, you can’t sell Africa on a Power Point and need to take time to understand the local landscape and that means being ‘hands on deck’. Once you have an understanding of the culture, policies and way of doing business, one can then introduce some ideas into a market. Also, one needs to be humble enough to accept that they don’t know it all and the need to stick to one’s guiding principles of doing business, people will always respect you for that. Last but not least, don’t make the mistake of thinking that Africa is a small place. It’s a continent with countries at different stages of development and it’s important to take some time to get a full understanding of this. Africa is a truly global player and has a significant role in the global community. We must understand and respect that!” We asked what some of the challenges of doing business in Africa are and Serima mentioned that, “One of the biggest challenges is that Africa hasn’t learnt to trade with itself. We should be able to learn from each other and work as team for us to do well, focusing on the right things. We need to continue to provide platforms through which we can share as well as demonstrate a trust towards each other and
our ability to provide our own solutions.” The protection of information and other related legal instruments are key to the sector according to Serima and should be respected. He speaks about the myths and discomfort around a third party handling one’s information’ and the need to overcome these in order to embrace the technology that is available. “This is a growth sector and I believe that there is only about 5% utilization in Africa and there is 95% out there for the taking. Paper is not dead and Africa still has a long way to go in the physical storage of paper.” Serima mentioned that his time at SAP prepared him for the Africa expansion challenge that Metrofile has embarked upon. His modus operandi includes both acquisitions and organic growth, seeking high value targets that tick all the economic boxes and can provide quick return on the investment. As for Zimbabwe, there are a number of industries and institutions through which Metrofile can add immediate value that he sees a low hanging fruit, including the Ministry of Home Affairs’. We concluded our interview with the wellspoken business leader with a series of soft questions that helped us understand the man behind the Metrofile machinery, including; Who was the biggest influence in your career? There is no one individual. I believe you just need to be a person who is enthused to succeed, to see hope becoming tangible. Success is not something you just dream about, you need to work for it and be open enough to be able to learn from others. If you are afforded an opportunity to excel, take it.
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What message do you have for those aspiring to walk in your footsteps? Understand that you’re running a marathon and there are no short cuts in life. Perseverance is an important element of success so don’t give up. Also, be open enough to receive criticism and don’t be uncomfortable to ask for help or to say the simple but sometimes difficult phrases like, ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘thank you’. Be prepared to learn from others and be open enough to seek help and listen to other people. Stick to the fundamentals and to the basics. Don’t be overly complicated, keep it simple. What is your ultimate African and Zimbabwean holiday destination and why?
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In Africa, there are a couple; off the coast of Côte d’Ivoire, up north in Senegal, Zanzibar, off the coast of Mombasa as well as Casablanca and inland it would be the central region of Africa. Also, Africa still exudes an indigenous experience like no other in many places, including the Bushmen here in South Africa, the traditional people in Binga back in Zimbabwe, the Masai in Kenya and other tribes up north. In addition to these indigenous tribes, another priceless experience on the continent would be the wide-ranging genres of music that we have here in Africa, some of which unfortunately are facing extinction, like ‘ngorombe’ in Zimbabwe for instance. In Zimbabwe, you can’t ignore the High-
lands in Manicaland and water permitting, the Kariba Dam as well. Victoria Falls is always a natural choice as well as the Chiredzi region which has some safari lodges of international standard. My Zim 5 – Pfungwa Serima All-time favorite Zimbabwean: 1) Song – Mabvi nemagokora (Madzibaba Nicholas Zakaria & the Khiama Boys) 2) Artist – the Khiama Boys (as well as Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo, the Sungura Boys) 3) TV show – Mukadota 4) Meal – Sadza, muriwo and nyama 5) Holiday destination – as listed above.
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Making Aviation History Flying High with Captains Chipo and Elizabeth he names of Elizabeth Simbi Petros and Chipo Matimba will forever be engraved in Zimbabwe’s aviation history after the two captains together made the first all-female voyage in a Boeing 737 from Harare to Victoria Falls in November 2015. The Herald newspaper best described the exploit with the headline ‘Beautiful history in the skies’. TheZimbabweAchiver.Com was fortunate to catch up with the two exquisite ladies to get an appreciation of this achievement as well as their individual journeys’. Born in 1980 in the sunny city of Harare, Elizabeth wanted to fly from the tender age of 3 and after graduating from the University of Namibia with a Degree in Psychology she
immediately joined the Ethiopian Airlines Aviation Academy. Upon completion of the academy training she worked for the same airline as a First Officer (flying domestic routes in the Fokker 50), before promotion to Boeing 767 and 757. In three and half years, she accumulated over 2500 flying hours and covered over 50 destinations globally, gaining priceless experience with the airline. In 2008, Elizabeth got married and coincidentally, her husband is in the same field. Coincidentally, her husband is in the same field. In 2010, she moved back home when an opportunity at Air Zimbabwe arose, allowing for her to start a family. Elizabeth has two beautiful children: a daughter and son aged 3 and 2 years old, respectively.
In 2014 Elizabeth was promoted to Captain and currently flies the Boeing 737 for the national carrier, where she made the epic voyage with fellow Captain Chipo Matimba in 2015. We began by asking the Captain Elizabeth Simbi how it felt to make aviation history; “Being part of a historical event made me feel proud … I felt privileged to be part of an event that showed Zimbabwe in a positive light, especially in this era we are in, where Africa is mostly associated with negative images and events. It was exciting to see the positive national and international responses and to see people discussing a positive issue relating to Women in Africa.
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I could have done alone. Take us through your typical day? A typical workday would involve me waking up at 4am. I fly domestic and regional routes and most of the departures are at 7am. Once I arrive at work (at our dispatch office), I meet with the First Officer and discuss the flight for the day. We look at the weather forecast and other paper work pertaining to the flight and plan the flight accordingly. We then meet with the rest of the crew, conduct a crew briefing, discuss safety issues and discuss how we plan to conduct the flight. We proceed to the aircraft where each crew-member prepares for the flight in their various areas of responsibility. My duties include: ensuring that the aircraft is serviceable and safe to operate and to coordinate preparation for the flight. Once all this is ready, we are ready to receive and welcome our passengers and after completing paperwork, it’s off to the skies. Simultaneously, it was exhilarating to be part of such a special event. I was excited to break the so-called ‘glass ceiling’ and to be part of the many examples that women have set in various industries, that we are just as capable as men are. It was exciting to fly with a sister, a friend, someone that I look up to, as Chipo embarked on this career before me and paved the way.” Who was the biggest career influence? My father was an aeronautical engineer, so I was exposed to airplanes at a very young age. He is passionate about aviation and I believe that rubbed-off on me and has stayed with me since. Hard work, integrity and a good attitude are qualities I learned from him and I believe these are qualities that are vital to this industry. My mother has also played a huge role – she has been a great source of encouragement throughout my career and has helped me raise my family. She spoke positive words into my life, prays for me daily and has always showed how much she believes in me. In essence, she has shown me what real strength is. I’ve realized that the good support system and my faith in God were valuable to enable me to aim for my dreams and attain them. It’s not something
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knowledge and skills in psychology and aviation. It would be an honour to get involved in training pilots to assist in developing effective, efficient and optimal aviators and in so doing, improve safety standards in our profession. Name 5 random things we did not know about you. I come from a family of Aviators – My mom is an IATA certified Travel Consultant. My dad is an Aeronautical Engineer. My husband, my sister and my brother-in-law are all airline pilots. Interestingly, other than my mom, we all attended the Ethiopian Airlines Aviation Academy. My idea of relaxing is going out for a meal, followed by a movie. My favorite meal is a seafood platter. My faith is a very big part of me I am a member of Celebration Church Ministries in Harare. I met the man of my dreams on a flight … he was the Captain of the flight and I was a passenger heading to Victoria Falls.
What is your ultimate flight destination and why? Bangkok, Thailand is my all-time favorite destination. The airport is massive and well-built and excellently maintained. The entire airport is professionally administered and runs like a well-oiled machine. It is such a busy airport, yet it is very smooth and runs with ease. What message do you have for those aspiring to walk in your footsteps? My message is simple, keep at it — what women think is impossible really might not be. It might just be that the world has been so used to a certain frame of how things should be and for so long we have conformed. We shouldn’t let others tell us what we can or cannot do … the fact that we can balance a career as well as have children, bring up and look after a family should count for a lot. I can testify to the fact that it is possible to have a family and continue a flying career successfully. Where to from here? I love flying, I love my job and want to be involved in the aviation industry for some time to come. I have a passion for psychology as well, so in the future, I would like to apply my
My Zim 5 – Elizabeth Petros Simbi All-time favorite Zimbabwean: 1) Song – Zvekupenga (Bhande ne Bhurugwa) by Chashe Musarurwa and Tinashe Makura 2) Artist – Chashe Musarurwa (awesome voice!) 3) TV show – Mukadota 4) Meal – Sadza, Oxtail with peanut butter veg 5) Holiday destination – Victoria Falls.
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rained by the Air Force of Zimbabwe, Captain Chipo Matimba’s career began as a military cadet who also trained as a flying instructor. When her contract expired, she joined the civil aviation sector, starting off as a co-pilot on the Boeing 737. Today, she’s a Captain with Air Zimbabwe, where she made history in 2015. Her typical day usually starts with a 6am check-in at the flight operations room where she would generally receive the weather briefing, flight plans and operational state of navigational and airport facilities at the airports of destination and en route. After carrying out pre-flights inspections on the aircraft and boarding passengers, she would then proceed, with her co-pilot, to take them to their respective destinations. How did it feel to make aviation history, flying a Boeing 737 on the first all-female deck crew? It was exciting because I know it definitely inspired a lot of men and women (both within and beyond our Zimbabwean
borders). It was totally exhilarating as this was a first for 2 female Captains. We weren’t originally rostered to fly together but circumstances made it happen. It was a rare occurrence for our paths to cross in the same flight deck, given that we are both Captains. All same, we loved it and made the most of it. Our passengers were thrilled to be part of this history-making. Who has been the biggest influence in your career? One God-fearing woman of steel, my mother Anne Chipoyera. She built an ‘empire’ from humble beginnings and single-handedly raised 9 children after she was widowed. If she could overcome the adversities of being in the minority group of businesswomen in the 1970’s, how could I fail in an environment where women now get equal opportunities as their male counterparts? She is my rock. What is your ultimate flight destination and why?
For me, all airports are unique experiences! What message do you have for those aspiring to walk in your footsteps? Just think “…if Chipo did it, so can I.” I’m just an ordinary person who set her goals and diligently set out to achieve them. Avoid distractions until attaining your goal. Where to from here? Aviation, aviation and more aviation. One day, I hope to train young underprivileged women to be pilots!
My Zim 5 – Chipo Matimba All-time favorite Zimbabwean: 1) Song – National Anthem (must be my military background) 2) Artist – Safirio Madzingatire 3) TV show – Mukadota family (I love comedy) 4) Food – roasted mealies. 5) Holiday destination – Vic falls.
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Sculpting the Future A Day in the Life of Michele Mathison ichele Mathison grew up and lived between Zimbabwe and South Africa, an experience which has had a profound influence on his work. He completed a BA (Honours) in Fine Arts from the University of Cape Town in 2000 and also attended the UNESCO Film and Television Training Project in Harare. An accomplished artist with several solo and group exhibitions, Michele’s work has been showcased all over the world (including in Brussels, London, Cape Town and Johannesburg). His accolades include: the Edoardo Villa Memorial bursary; a special jury prize at the FESPACO Film Festival; the National Merit Award in Zimbabwe for Blood stones, to mention but a few.
Take us through your career path? I guess the early influence was growing up in a home with lots of art and artists around me. That is also just part of growing up in Zim … I think it’s in our soul and our environment. From there, it was art classes at Prince Edward School with Kate Raath, an exceptional artist herself and a great teacher. Then Michaelis Art School at UCT, where I was privileged to have the time and space to learn about the history and theory of art, as well as how to make it. A big moment came in 2013 when I exhibited with the Zimbabwe Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Raphael Chikukwa, the curator of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe has been a huge mentor and supporter of my work.
TheZimbabweAchiever.Com reached out to Michele for a conversation with the publication and we began by asking him what he prefers to be known as: “Well, the conversation always goes artist, and then sculptor.”
Who is your biggest career influence and who do you currently look up to for mentorship? I think you need to have lots of mentors in the Art world. In my case, gallerists, curators, artists and friends all combine to support me and influence my work.
Take us through a typical day for you? There is never a typical day. I go through different phases of thinking, exploring and making. You have to juggle your time constantly and find a balance. I usually get going with some exercise, then emailing and then time in the studio making work or playing with new ideas. There is always time spent moving around sourcing material and materials. What, in your view, does it take to make it in your industry? Patience, perseverance, and the belief in what you do and how you say it. Also having enough money to keep going. What are some of the greatest challenges you face as an artist? Trusting in the process and having the financial support to realize your work. What are some of the greatest opportunities that currently exist in your chosen trade? To share your knowledge and creativity with the world and hopefully instigate some
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interesting debate or ways of ‘seeing’. Talk to us about the space you work in, from an African and also Zimbabwean standpoint. It’s about finding meaning and identity within the context of old and new cultures. Africa is changing at a rapid pace and artists are at the forefront of negotiating the search for some connection to the past and future. I identify with the objects I see around me … what they come to represent. The stories they can tell are usually varied, just as we are representations of our various histories and beliefs. Where to from here for the sector as a whole? In your view, is Africa rising? Africa is at the forefront of a global art trend at the moment. There is a huge interest and demand for our work. How sustainable it is remains to be seen. One has to be careful not to adjust to this demand but to continue making work with an original voice. What is your ultimate African and Zimbabwean holiday destination and why? I love Nyanga, especially the Pungwe River. Those misty mountains and pure waters are the perfect place to rejuvenate the soul. What message do you have for those aspiring to walk in your footsteps? Learn as much as you can and then find your own voice. Give us 5 random things we did not know about you. I play central defense for my football club. I learnt how to dance in boarding school at Prince Edward. I am a pretty good cook. My father’s name was Alberto Tagliaferri. I once sang in a band at The Mannenberg in Harare.
My Zim 5 – Michele Mathison All-time favorite Zimbabwean: 1) Song – Ndakuvara – Oliver Mtukudzi 2) Artist – Fanizani Akuda 3) TV show – Gillete world sport special 4) Meal – Sadza, t-bone and muriwo 5) Holiday destination – Nyanga.
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Invest Zimbabwe Chasing Inflation arely seven years since the hyperinflation frenzy in Zimbabwe, here we are, chanting for inflation. Presented below is an excerpt of the Emergent Research 2016 investment outlook report. We identified the major economic and investment themes of this year, shaped by macro policy and global trends. New Deflated Order We believe the economy has entered a secular period of low-flation to deflation. As factors behind this deflation are demonstrating a staying power, the secular period is expected to last 2-3years. For this horizon, the theme: the New Deflated Order applies. This new theme summarises the following trends for the next 2-3 years, with primary focus on 2016:– Persistent deflation –in the absence of a radical shift in policy and re-engagement of international creditors, deflation will persist. Three contributing factors remain: (i) a weak Rand, which is likely to remain and has thus far led to an importation of deflation from South Africa; (ii) Monetary tightening by the FED (in a divergent world where other central banks are loosening) is expected to keep the dollar strong; and (iii) poor infrastructure and low productivity are depressing wages and weakening consumption – a key ingredient for deflation. – Depressed growth to mild recession – private consumption – the largest GDP contributor (80%) – has been slowing over the last two years. An improvement in trade-balance and spending by NGOs has helped avert a recession thus far. With a strong currency, we have limited power to stem imports and much less, stoke exports. Our GDP growth expectations for 2016 hover in the -1% to +1.5% range. – Weak productivity leading to loss in competitiveness – investment in technology and machinery by Zimbabwean companies lags that of her regional peers. The outcome has been a loss in labour productivity, as em-
Ray Chipendo ployees have little (in terms of technology) to work with, coupled with weak infrastructure (e.g. energy, logistics and water). There is a growing concern that the competitiveness of Zimbabwean companies will continue to weaken, thereby inciting imports and the associated depressing income. – Risk Aversion – as economic uncertainty extends into 2016, risk aversion will continue to influence investment decision-making. This investor pivot may once again provoke another wave of disinvestment in equities. Infrastructure (and perhaps property) are the most likely beneficiaries, as they are perceived as relatively ‘safe’ assets.
Historic Performance and Outlook Deteriorating balance sheets, triggered by a combination of low prices and high leverage was behind the sharp fall in the mining index. As a result, the narrative surrounding mining equities shifted from profitability concerns to anxiety over the survival of these companies. Notwithstanding, in the last three months, more commodity analysts have echoed the sentiment that commodity prices have entered a ‘U-shaped’ recovery path [Chimuti, 2015; Dombo, 2016]. We share the same view and believe mining companies with limited debt and selling industrial metals, are preferred investing candidates. Private Equity Until now, private equity has focussed on retail and consumables. Liquidity and cash
requirements explain. But with private consumption continuing to stutter, we expect private equity to focus on more defensive sectors. Sectors such as Infrastructure and Healthcare will begin to attract private equity money. We have not noticed use of excessive debt on any recent transactions. Instead, growth and operational efficiencies have been key sources of value for funds. Property In 2015, the property asset-class was challenged. Prices softened and rentals remained under pressure. In some cases, prices were revised downwards by as much as 20% [Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe (REIZ), 2015]. Even when we believe that property prices still have room to fall, two factors have ‘applied brakes’ on how far prices should fall: (i)Illiquidity of the asset class makes it hard to mark prices to market; and (ii) risk aversion has been responsible sucking capital from assets such as equities, into property. It is little surprise that property is perhaps the only overvalued investment, even relative to other African markets. We expect property prices to trade sideways as conflicting market forces remain at play. The following ingredients: low asset prices, weak growth to possible economic contraction and liquidity strain, require selectivity and a long-term view. Our view is that, with a holding period of 3-4 years, investors should focus on assets that: have limited debt; produce cash-flows; are not subject to foreign competition; and finally, would benefit from a sentiment shift.
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International Business The Fourth Industrial Revolution he buzz at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos was generated by the notion of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”, described by Klaus Schwab (the Founder and Executive Chairman of World Economic Forum), as a “…technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work and relate to one another.” Mr. Schwab outlines three characteristics of the ongoing transformation, that mark it out as a new phase rather than a prolongation of the current digital revolution — velocity, scope and systems impact. To fully understand the impact of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”, it is important to have a historical perspective on the industrial revolution.
A Brief Economic History of the World The First Industrial Revolution, began in Great Britain in the late 1700s. It first harnessed water power through water-mills, then steam through the steam-engine, leading to the mechanization of the textile industry and ultimately resulted in the birth of what became known as the ‘modern factory’. The rapid increase in the output of manufactured goods spawned a rapid improvement in transportation systems (e.g. railways, steampowered ships), thereby enabling a significant growth in global trade. Towards the end of the 19th century, the world went through the Second Industrial Revolution. The defining characteristic of this ‘new age’ was a switch to electricity as the primary source of energy. This led to the
Lesley Ndlovu
era of mass production and specialization, best illustrated by the American industrialist, Henry Ford who championed the assembly line and was thus able to transform the automobile from an ‘expensive curiosity’ into a primary means of transportation. The 1970s ushered in the Third Industrial Revolution — the era of the personal computer, the internet, mobile phone and the whole gamut of communications and information technologies. This is the era we are currently living in. The purported “Fourth Industrial Revolution” represents entirely new ways in which technology becomes embedded within society and even our human bodies. The key technologies of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” include: artificial intelligence, robotics, genome editing and 3D printing. The World Economic Forum is convinced that, going forward, the speed of change will be unprecedented. It could disrupt almost every industry in every country, and it heralds “the transformation of entire systems of production, management, and governance”. This view is supported by the rapid growth seen in companies like Facebook, which has grown from 100 million users in 2008 to 1.6 billion users at the end of 2015 or the WhatsApp messaging platform which has grown from 200 million to 1 billion users in just over three years. Companies like Uber and Lyft are instigating questions around the traditional taxi model, while Airbnb is disrupting the hotel industry and Lending Club could transform the traditional banking business model. Google has successfully tested a driverless car and it is conceivable that in the not-so-distant future, automated vehicles might be the norm. What does this mean for Zimbabwe?
MIT Sloan School of Management economists Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee have warned that, “…the revolution could increase inequality in the world”. Countries that move quickly into the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” could experience a significant increase in their GDP, while laggards stagnate or regress. Taking the case of Zimbabwe, it is easy to see how this could be the case. In my realistic assessment, there is a high probability that in Zimbabwe, we are still not fully ready to take advantage of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”. As it stands, we have not even fully implemented the Second Industrial Revolution. We are lagging behind in the metrics of the Second Industrial Revolution. For example, the level of electricity generated is very low — 984 MW versus a daily demand of 2,000 MW . Furthermore, manufacturing capacity utilization is at only 34% . In terms of the Third Industrial Revolution, the country has benefitted immensely from the digital age, especially from computerization and the advent of mobile communication technology, however; there is still much to be done to fully exploit all the opportunities that are available. The Challenge Ahead To access the opportunities created by the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” there is need for a coordinated nationwide approach that will bring together all the various stakeholders. Ideally, this could/should culminate in the drafting of a comprehensive preparation plan. This is an opportunity that is too big to miss and it demands our immediate collective attention. thezimbabweachiever.com
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ISSUE #001 • MARCH 2016
An African Perspective Africa has all it Needs... ur land and waters are endowed with wealth and potential. About 30% of the world’s known mineral reserves are in Africa. Furthermore, the largest cobalt, diamonds, platinum, and uranium reserves in the world are in this continent. Even though Africa is the least explored region when it comes to natural resources and still, no one knows how much we really have. Over 60% of the global total of uncultivated arable land lies in Africa. This is quite significant, in the context of a world that continuously faces food shortages due to negative climate effects, and in the face of a growing appetite for automobile fossil fuel. In terms of demographics, about 65% of Africa’s one billion people is under the age of 35, making Africa the ‘youngest continent’. While we lag behind in terms of development, change is happening as Africa has been growing steadily at 2% above the rest of the world since 2000. For the last 15 years or so, about 6 of Africa’s economies have been (at one point or another) in the ‘Top 10 ‘fastest growing economies’, at above 6% GDP. A Vision for Africa – Agenda 2063 Wisdom says, “Where there is no vision the people perish”. In 2015, under the leadership of the African Union (AU), the continent embraced a vision dubbed Agenda 2063. Since the OAU years, Africa has been guided by goals and decisions adopted by its leaders in various fora at global, continental and regional levels. However, there was no articulated vision we could all work towards. In fact, this was most visible when our leaders would gather at various summits (e.g. Africa and Europe, Africa and China and several other such fora). Our Heads of States and Governments would advance their individual countries’ interests and not necessarily unified continental interests. Agenda 2063 encapsulates such consolidated developmental aspirations of the people of Africa, speaking of a continent that is: (i)
Janah Ncube
prosperous, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development; (ii) an integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance; (iii) an Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law; (iv) a peaceful and secure Africa; (v) an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics; (vi) an Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children; and (vii) Africa as a strong, united and influential global player and partner. For agenda 2063 to be realised, the following conditions are imperative: Africans need to own it; Africa needs to finance its own development; there is need for accountable leadership and responsive African institutions; capable and democratic development states and institutions are fundamental; there is need for changed attitudes and mind-sets; and most importantly, a Pan-African approach and ownership of the African narrative and brand should be adopted. A Progressive Policy Framework The much-needed policy frameworks to facilitate economic growth, development and protection of human rights are in place in Africa. In the last 53 years, the OAU/AU adopted 49 protocols that touch on every aspect of Africa’s development and Africans’ human rights including on trade, natural resource management, peace and security, health, education, human rights, child, youth and women’s rights, etc. Protocols (being legally-binding instruments of international law), compel the countries that have signed and ratified these laws to implement them and ensure that their citizens enjoy the protection and benefit they espouse. The key challenge is their implementation. According to the State of the Union
Continental Compliance Report entitled: “Realizing Africa’s Aspirations” (a study of the status of implementation AU instruments and standards), there is a huge gap between reality and the promises embedded in the Protocols. What is needed is the political-will, particularly at state-level, to invest the needed resources to ‘bring to life’ these frameworks, as well as the leadership to champion the advancements that our culture, traditions and religions need to embrace. Putting women at the heart of Africa’s development and economic growth The African Development Bank asserts that gender-equality is both a development goal in itself and a precondition to development and economic growth. It is both a matter of human rights and a matter of ‘smart economics’. 2015 was marked as: ‘the year of women’s empowerment and development’, whilst 2016 has been themed: ‘the year of Human Rights, particularly Women’s Rights’. The Evidence of countries moving in the right direction is compelling: Ghana recently announced that, from July 2016, it is joining Seychelles, Rwanda, Mauritius in issuing visas to Africans upon arrival; Egypt held an investment conference which focused on Africa; SADC, EAC and COMESA signed a tripartite Free Trade Agreement covering 60% of Africa’s population; Ethiopia and Rwanda are strong developmental states whose economies are growing due to investment in infrastructure;. The fundamental question for Zimbabwe is: are we flowing with the continent or going against the grain? thezimbabweachiever.com
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Governance Watch
True Value of Good Governance here is valid debate about the usefulness of ‘good governance’, given the vagueness and proliferation of definitions as to what exactly the term refers. At the same time, it feels important to recognise that ‘good’, as an adjective, carries an unhelpful sense of a ‘right’ and a ‘wrong’ way to govern. The choice of how best to deliver services in Harare, relative to Abuja, will depend on the context, the existing infrastructure and the size of the population in question (among other factors). Where ‘good governance’ can add value is in its focus on the characteristics of the processes used to make decisions and the centrality of participation and inclusion within those characteristics. It is in the value-driven emphasis on openness, participation and inclusion (as critical to processes that support appropriate decision-making), that the concept becomes part of a people centred approach to social change. Simultaneously, the focus on process can be applied across governments, parastatals, companies and organisations – including ‘non-profits’ or charities. The responsible use of revenue from natural resources is tied to understanding the needs of the communities who live on the ground above the resource and their needs relative to those of others in the nation... The process-centred characteristics of ‘good governance’ serve a further function – the inclusive and consensusoriented focus places an emphasis on collective rather than individual goalsetting. This shifts decision-making away from possible “capture” by individuals or group interests. The process privileges the role of institutionalised processes, not least the acknowledgement of the formal legal and regulatory framework that aims to standardise the context for
Karin Alexander
decision-making. In this way, a processorientation supports the development of systems that are more transparent, more responsive and easier to navigate for ordinary people. This transparency within the machinery of states, corporates or community entities improves the capacity of the collective to acknowledge and manage the interests of groups within the whole.
The practical application of the characteristics could be summed up in the need for diverse staff, adequate stuff, public spaces and open, effective systems. #staffstuffsystems began trending, linked to the response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake. With the global response to the Ebola crisis in 2014, it evolved to #staffstuffspacesystems, as Paul Farmer (a Harvard professor and founder of Partners in Health), sought to bring attention to the simplicity of the necessary architecture to respond to crises. As such, cross the African continent, we need to ensure our governments, industries, professions and cooperatives can access the right people (staff) and infrastructure (stuff) to thrive. Concurrently, we need to create and protect platforms and spaces that allow for inclusive engagement and consensus oriented participation (space). If we have those spaces, we can agree on the most appro-
priate rules and regulations for how we want to interact, reach consensus and take action for change (systems). This then is the link between ‘good governance’ and development discourse about how it is critical to – in the words of Kofi Annan (the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations) – “eradicate poverty and promote development”. It harmonises the development of a culture of open consultation on decisions (thereby allowing people to freely express their needs) and the machinery of the state to be used to effectively respond to those same needs, within the bounds of collectively agreed and formalised ways of doing things. The true test of ‘good governance’, as posited by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights at the United Nations, is: “…the degree to which it delivers on the promise of [first and second generation] human rights”. It is up to each of us to think through what matters to oneself in the home or community or workplace or nation. Thereafter, ask yourself, who should I engage about it? How can I discover and use what avenues exist to be part of the decision-making around it? If the avenues do not exist today, find the space to communicate that. Mind you, diversity is the hidden strength of collectives and those who fail to embrace it struggle to rise!
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Letter of the Law Labour Law & Work Permits igration is a phenomenon as old as humanity, transcending eras, generations, geography and attributable to a plethora of factors. In consequence of various factors, Zimbabweans have migrated to countries far and beyond. Notwithstanding the reasons, the work ethos of Zimbabweans is one revered and acclaimed the world over! It is not difficult to observe however that in some situations, the legal immigration status of many (for the purposes of employment) is, questionable. Many end up seeking and being employed without the necessary valid work permits or any such permits as may entitle them to work. This creates a certain level of vulnerability from unscrupulous employers in these foreign lands. Owing to their immigration status, a significant proportion of Zimbabweans find themselves being taken advantage of, abused or exploited. Given their immigration status, there is understandable hesitation to seek the help of authorities in the resident country. The fundamental question is: What does the law provide for in respect of foreign employees who are employed without the immigration status lawfully allowing them to be gainfully employed? This short piece is based on a South African case which was determined by the Labour Court in Johannesburg referred to as: Discovery Health v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration & 2 others. It is a judgment of His Lordship Acting Judge, Van Niekerk in 2006. Although the judgment relates to the interpretation of the South African Labour Relations Act, the judgment makes reference to international law so much so that the reasoning of the judgment can be applied with relative ease to other countries. In summation, the facts of the case were
Nqobizitha Mlilo
that Discovery Health employed a foreign national, one German Lenzetta, who was on a temporary visitor’s permit. This permit did not permit him to be employed. The Immigration Act also criminalised the conduct of an employer who employs a foreign national without the necessary work permit. When Discovery Health realised that Lenzetta did not have a work permit, the company summarily terminated his employment with the company and dismissed him. Lenzetta referred the dismissal to the Commission for Concilliation, Mediation and Arbitration (‘CCMA’) – a forum established under the auspices of the South African Labour Relations Act, to mediate labour disputes. Mr Lenzetta contended that his dismissal was unfair, while Discovery Health contended that the CCMA could not entertain the dispute because Lenzetta was not their employee. They argued that, since he did not have a work permit, the contract of employment they had signed with him was invalid, from the date it was signed. If the contract was invalid, so the contention went, there was never an employment relationship. Put simply, the argument of Discovery Health was that any person who has no work permit cannot be regarded as an employee, even though such person had signed a contract and in fact worked for just under a year, as in the case of Lenzetta. The Labour Court held that for an employment relationship to exist, it is not necessary that the employee has a valid work permit. The existence of a work permit is not the basis for making the employment contract valid. The employment contract was valid and such person was an employee. This employee could claim the protection of and should be entitled to the benefits of all employment laws. The Labour Court justified its reasoning
on the basis of the Labour Relations Act, the South African Constitution and various conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisation (‘ILO’). In this way, the judgment may very well be replicated in countries other than South Africa. It is common practice for Courts in other countries to look at how other countries have interpreted international conventions. It is clear therefore that Zimbabweans who have migrated to other countries and do not have the necessary immigration status to work, should they be employed, can claim protection afforded to people employed on the same basis as those with the requisite immigration status to work. It goes without saying that countries will go to great lengths to preclude people without the necessary immigration status from being employed, and indeed that the ILO does not encourage that foreign nationals violate immigration laws of other countries. However, both the Labour Court in South Africa and ILO, for policy reasons, realise and accept the socio-economic conditions people find themselves in. This realisation necessitates that protection be afforded to migrants who do not have the necessary immigration status to be gainfully employed. It therefore suggests that Zimbabweans should, as far as possible, seek legal intervention should they be subjected to unfair labour practices. Precedent suggests that the law will be of assistance to them. The true test of civilisation is how the most vulnerable of employees are treated and/or protected by the law of any land. thezimbabweachiever.com
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S AV E T H E DAT E GRAND OPENING
03 APRIL 2016 10 Van Reebeek Street, Maboneng
A different kind of sneaker destination store is coming to Maboneng. The questions is, are you ready?
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ISSUE #001 • MARCH 2016
Doctor’s Note Understanding Depression
d
epression is common but few of us truly understand it.
The day that I was admitted into hospital with major depressive disorder was in actual fact, a lifesaver. I had reached the ‘end of the road’, rock-bottom and the only way out was to get help. Getting help meant I had to unburden all of life’s pressures to other people. For a moment, I had to self-introspect, not as a wife, or a mother or a manager. I was a ‘broken woman’ in serious need of help. Being in the mental-wellness hospital (for two weeks) was comforting. Why? Because I was surrounded by some of the most amazing people, from all walks of life – professionals, housewives, younger women, grandmothers, etc. We were all there for one reason – major depressive disorder. Comfort was drawn from sharing our life-stories and the realisation that we were not alone, I was not alone. The common thread amongst us all was how misunderstood our symptoms of depression were, particularly within our family circles. There is a difference between occasional feelings of sadness and a deeper level of sadness that starts affecting your life adversely. When I look at my life in retrospect, the symptoms of depression crept
Dr. Sindi van Zyl
up on me. I was struggling at work in a new position, we ‘moved house’ in the same week, and I just could not cope. The weeks leading up to my breakdown were harrowing. It was a struggle to get up in the mornings and choose something to wear to work. All I wanted to do was spend the day in my room, with all curtains drawn. My self-esteem had plummeted and it was hard to make even the simplest of decisions. I had lost a tremendous amount of weight (almost 13kg) due to loss of appetite. I had gone from being a social butterfly to a hermit. I had also stopped going to church because I just had no energy to be around other people. Notwithstanding all that was happening, I was determined to ‘keep it together’. Beloved, it is important to identify symptoms of depression and seek help timeously. In my case, I had the good fortune of being diagnosed by my General Practitioner (GP), who then swiftly arranged my hospital admission. If left undiagnosed and untreated, symptoms of major depression may worsen and persist for months (years even). Symptoms to look out for:• Difficulty in concentrating, remembering details and/or making decisions;
• Fatigue and decreased energy; • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness; • Feelings of hopelessness; • Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping; • Irritability, restlessness; • Loss of interest in activities or once pleasurable hobbies (including sex); • Overeating or appetite loss; • Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not improve with treatment; • Persistent sadness, anxiety, or “empty” feelings; • Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts. In my case, a combination of psychotherapy and medication worked wonders and the results have been fantastic. The hardest challenge for me was the fact that my beloved mother passed away just seven weeks after I was discharged from the hospital. Grief and depression are two different entities and so I had both of these to deal with. If you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, then do go and see your GP. Treatment is available and the results are life-changing.
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Wedding • Corporate videos • Events www.lwaziphotography.com +27 78 0211 629
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A WARM WELCOME AWAITS AT VICTORIA FALLS RAINBOW HOTEL For those guests whose main priorities are convenience, comfort and affordability, the Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel is the perfect destination. Centrally located and only 2 minutes’ drive to the Victoria Falls, and within walking distance into the town centre, the Victoria Falls Rainbow hotel is suitably located. A unique feature is the Panorama Deck which is on the rooftop of the hotel. This unique vantage point allows guests to view the Mosi-oa-Tunya spray, the Zambezi River and the National Park area surrounding the hotel. The hotel can host special sunset dinners, sunrise breakfasts and High Teas on this roof top platform as it provides some refreshing, breathtaking views.
The “Simujinga” restaurant, in the indigenous Tonga dialect means “Rainbow” with its enticing African aura, offers both buffet and a la carte menus. The newly launched Rainbow Delights menu offers an affordable, healthy and unmatched world class food experience with over 100 meals on offer ensuring diners are truly spoilt for choice.
gardens. Recently the hotel has undergone some upgrades to make the guest experience even more comfortable. These include new beds and linen, flat screen televisions, and upgraded air conditioning system in all the rooms. The front desk has also been mordenised adding to the total guest experience.
The dining experience extends to the Kraal where guests can experience an authentic, refreshing African Cuisine accompanied by entertainment in the form of traditional dancers, mbira and marimba during dinner.
QUICK FACTS • Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel is a 3 Star hotel; • 88 rooms which comprise of 64 standard; 20 standard doubles; two family suites standard doubles; two deluxe suites; • Conferencing for up to 100 guests cinema style; Two conference rooms; • One restaurant – Simujinga; • Panorama Deck venue; • Swim and sip bar; Situated 2km from the Victoria Falls, and walking distance into town.
The hotel’s indoor conferencing capacity can cater for up to 100 conferencing delegates and is also the perfect venue to host your family and business functions ranging from birthday parties, exclusive weddings or your end of year corporate cocktails for up to 200 guests in the well-manicured
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Now you can send MoneyGram directly from Standard Bank to their Ecocash wallet MoneyGram partners with Econet Zimbabwe to bring your loved ones more convenience in receiving their MoneyGram remittances. Transactions sent from Standard Bank locations to them will be received directly into your loved ones’ mobile wallet at any time of the day or night. What do I need to send MoneyGram transactions into a receiver’s mobile wallet? To send money to EcoCash in Zimbabwe you would need just the following: 1. The mobile number of your loved one, 2. The appropriate documentation required by the send country you are sending from 3. Your money to send Please ensure that you have the correct mobile number of the receiver How much can I send into their wallet? Ecocash Zimbabwe Customer Limits (USD) Maximum wallet limit
No Limit
Single transaction limit
500
Daily transaction limit
1,000
Monthly Limit
3,000
Would I still need to send the MoneyGram reference number to my family in the receive country for sends into their mobile wallet? The convenience of sending a MoneyGram remittance directly onto your receiver’s mobile wallet eliminates the need for a reference number. From the time of send, the remittance will be deposited into the receivers’ mobile wallet within seconds. How much do my loved ones have to pay to receive their MoneyGram Transaction on their mobile wallet? Just like receiving your normal MoneyGram transaction, it is absolutely free to receive money into ones mobile wallet. However, normal mobile wallet charges apply for other transactions like cash-out, pay a bill and pay a merchant. What happens if I send a MoneyGram transaction to a loved one who doesn’t have an Ecocash mobile wallet in the Zimbabwe? With EcoCash in Zimbabwe, the receiver of the transaction would need to be a registered EcoCash customer; otherwise the transaction will be rejected. Registering for an EcoCash wallet is easy. Your loved one needs to visit an EcoCash agent with a copy of their ID…no fees apply. Who do my loved ones reach if they encounter problems receiving into their wallet? Ecocash Zimbabwe • Call EcoCash Help Line (Call Centre) on 114, • Visit any Econet Shop/Agent near you. • Contact us on our EcoCash Facebook Page on: https://www.facebook.com/ecocashzim • Send us a message on Twitter handle @EcoCashZW • Visit www.econet.co.zw/ecocashdiaspora Send MoneyGram from Standard Bank to their EcoCash today.
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Zimbabwe Achievers Awards UK The Journey and Beyond
i
t has become one of the most highly anticipated events in the UK based Zimbabwean community and continues to evolve year after year.
In 2011, the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards held its first awards ceremony for around 200 people at The Mermaid Theatre in Blackfriars, London. The red carpet event was graced with the crème de la crème of the Zimbabwean Community who turned out to support the maiden event. The brainchild of Conrad Mwanza (Founder and Chairman), the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards were initially set up in 2010, as a nonprofit making organisation not only dedicated to the advancement and improvement of the Zimbabwean community, but also, as a platform to bring Zimbabweans together to celebrate, recognise and raise the profile of the achievements of those individuals nominated for their excellence in a large variety of sectors and categories (including Business, Fashion, Sports and Community Initiatives, etc). “The Zimbabwe Achievers Awards was setup with the purpose of establishing a platform that would adequately represent the hard work, creative influences and achievements of Zimbabweans living in the UK…” said ZAA Chairman Conrad Mwanza. “Awards do not only acknowledge success … they recognise many other qualities like ability, struggle, effort and above all, excellence,” he added. The success of the first awards ceremony brought a wave of optimism and pride amongst the Zimbabwean Community and gave the organizers the incentive they needed to make it an annual event.
“Every year, we endeavour to honour people that deserve to be honoured — individuals or organizations that are ‘putting in the work’ and raising the Zimbabwean Flag high,” said Executive Director Brian Nyabunze. “An award, by any measure, is a sign of excellence — an acknowledgment that peers and professionals alike agree that a certain brand or company is excelling in what they do, and a platform like the Zimbabwe Achievers highlights this,” he added. The bar was raised for the second event in 2012. With a new look, high-profile sponsor in MoneyGram, this prestigious event was here to stay. Held at the five-star Grange Tower hotel, the evening was hosted by Dr. Who Star, Chipo Chung, with Cynthia Mare among the entertainers that serenaded the crowd. Vuli Mkandla and Strive Masiyiwa were among the awards recipients. Mkandla, the man behind Charity Organization Zimbabwe Educational Trust, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his charitable work in enabling Zimbabwean students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue their dreams of an education, while the Chairman’s Honorary Award was awarded to Econet founder and CEO, Mr Strive Masiyiwa. ZAA CEO, Peter Soko said that it was out of a genuine ‘sow and ye shall reap’ altruism that pushed the team to make the second awards gala an event better than the first, and one that would resonate with their guests for a long time to come, adding that they have continued to set the bar higher every year. “As Zimbabweans, we ought to have something that we are proud of, something that we look forward to … and this event is something that we look forward to every year.”
“We have watched and have been invited to other awards shows over the years, so for us to have something of our own that we are proud of is a beautiful thing and we cannot wait for what the next few years have in store,” Soko said. Now in its sixth year, the annual gala is set for Saturday the 7th of May 2016 and will be held at the luxurious five-star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London. The venue boasts views of the capital’s rooftops and iconic architecture, and overlooks the magnificent Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace (home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge). Award nominations opened in the first week of December 2015, across all 18 categories, making it the first time in five years that nominations opened a month early. The nominees for this year’s awards were announced on the 18 th of March 2016. Last year’s winners included Grammy award winning producer Brian Soko, who was named International Music Artist of the Year. The Chairman’s award also gave special recognition to UK-based church and community organizations that have made significant contributions to the Zimbabwean community over the years. Mr Nyabunze stated that, “Highlighting excellence and worthy-causes is something that has really come to matter at ZAA, and we can honestly say that since its inception, we have achieved the very goal we set out to accomplish. However, the work is not done.” The ZAA annual celebration dinner has become a prominent and exclusive social event and the premium platform for recognizing the hard-work and achievements of people of Zimbabwean heritage in the UK.
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Community Organization Southern African Embrace Foundation outhern Africa Embrace Foundation (SAE Fdn) was founded in the year 2010 by Sindy ZemuraBernard in Toronto, Canada. The organization is a fully-registered international charity organization, 100% volunteer-run and publicly funded. Currently, the team has 5 board members and 7 volunteers. In addition to members in Toronto, SAE Fdn has field advisors located in the UK, SA and Zimbabwe. Sindy Zemura-Bernard was born and raised in Bulawayo and migrated to South Africa in 1997, before moving to Ireland in 2000, UK in 2002, USA in 2004, and Canada in 2006. Sindy has worked as an accountant across differing industries, including: pensions, property management, financial services and auto-manufacturing. Her educational background includes studies in social work, non-profit management, international development and political science. Sindy has a passion for helping those that are marginalized and vulnerable to have access to better life opportunities through education, self-sustainability and empowerment. SAE Fdn focuses its assistance in and around Southern Africa. In the 6 years since inception, the organization has supported 742 children and 387 women residing in South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. The sponsorships have included: supporting those affected by and/or living with HIV/ AIDS through supplement sponsorships and food packages; Educational sponsorships (school fees payment, stationery supplies, school shoes, school bags, examination fees) for children between grade 1-11; rural incomegenerating projects (community gardening, farming, poultry raising, handicraft work); and more recently the launch of a clean water initiative to drill boreholes in rural areas of Zimbabwe in order to help communities have access to clean and accessible water for both personal and project use.
The first of this project is being launched in the Kezi area (Matabeleland South) in Wards 3 and 4, where the borehole will serve a community of over 300 residents. SAE Fdn proudly supports communities in: Matatiele village (Mpumalanga, SA), Durban Children’s home (Durban, SA), Qwaqwa (Free State, SA), Litsemba village (Swaziland), Bulawayo and Kezi (Zimbabwe). What we do? We aspire to empower, educate and facilitate a better lifestyle to women and children who are faced with a daily struggle in their society to survive against poverty, abuse, hunger, homelessness, illiteracy and disease. Who we work with? We sponsor and work in collaboration with selected clinics, shelters, educational organizations, orphanages, religious organizations, NGO’s, individuals and corporate firms in and outside the countries we provide our services to. What we believe? SAE Fdn believes in equality for all regardless of sex, religion, ethnicity, status, age and educational background. Our organization is founded and stands firm on the principles of equality for all, compassion, love, dignity, care and respect for each life/persons. What we envision? We envision a strong alliance of Southern African women and children of today and the future who live in sustainable communities, are self-reliant, empowered, prosperous and confident individuals with open access to life potential opportunities.
16yrs) in Southern Africa. GETTING INVOLVED Volunteering Donating your time is a valuable way to make an impact and get involved. SAE Fdn would not be able to function without the help of volunteers. Interested in volunteering, email us at info@sae-foundation.org Third Party Events You may choose to hold a fundraising event (third party) and select SAE Fdn as the beneficiary. SAE Fdn will provide promotional materials, guest speakers from SAE Fdn, etc. Please contact SAE Fdn prior to planning your event and we can provide you with the most appropriate support. Interested in participating, email us! Partnerships At SAE Fdn, we value partnerships as these help us fulfil our mission in Southern Africa. We welcome partnerships from Individuals, Corporations, Hospitals, Clinics, Shelters, Orphanages, NGO’s etc. Please send us an email with details on how you would like to Partner with SAE. Contact Us: Email: info@sae-foundation.org Twitter: www.twitter.com/SAE_FOUNDATION Facebook: www.facebook.com/ southernafricaembracefoundation.org Instagram: www.instagram.com/saefoundation
Our Mission? To help in the eradication of poverty, abuse, hunger, homelessness, illiteracy and disease by advocating, supporting and promoting the wellbeing of marginalized women and children (0thezimbabweachiever.com
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Community Organization You Have It In You Foundation ou Have It in You Foundation celebrated 2 years of giving in February 2016. The organisation was founded by 3 friends; Vu Mashengele (Canada), Lorraine Bere (Canada) and Thuli Mazwi (UK). Our office is in Bulawayo. We firmly believe that every child has a right to education and their economic background should not adversely affect their life aspirations and where they stand tomorrow. We firmly believe that every child has a right to education and their economic background should not adversely detect their life aspirations and where they stand tomorrow. Currently we run four initiatives: Scholarship Programme: offering scholarships to underprivileged children. Feeding Programme: we partnered with a school in Bulawayo to offer one meal a day, on every school-day. Leadership Programme: working with children to develop leadership competencies and encouraging them to see themselves as a solution to the issues encountered by their
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society and the world at large. Resource Centre: established a Resource Centre in Mpopoma (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe), fully equipped with a library and computers, catering for local girls. At the last count (in March 2016), our impact directly reaches almost 200 children and youth in Matabeleland. At present, we are greatly burdened by the state of disaster declared by the government, as a result of the drought. We are cognisant of the reality that even more children’s education will be impacted by this. As a result, we are preparing to launch a fundraising campaign in April 2016, so we can partner with more schools and provide a meal to more children. We may only be able to impact a few hundred children but every little helps. We would also like to hear from and partner with other people who cater to the needs of girls. Contact details: E-Mail: contact@youhaveitinyou.org www.youhaveitinyou.org
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Ones to Watch Brian Nhira on The Voice
Oral Roberts University were he attended his ter-
“My parents came here from Zimbabwe to the
tiary education and has since done over 400 events.
United States in 1988 to further education, between my mom & dad, they have 10 degrees. They have always been big dreamers and I inherited that as well. ”
“Zimbabwe is so near and dear to my heart, my parents are from there. I was born in the U.S but I go back every year to Zimbabwe, I spend a lot of my summers in Zimbabwe, on missions trips,
Nhira, started singing at the age of 4, singing Jesus
singing and speaking there, and so, man, I am
Loves Me. He was also the main worship leader at
honored to represent this great nation.”
Vitalis Chikoko is a Zimbabwean professional
The 2.1 metre Vitalis broke the record as
basketball player who plays for Bayern Munich
Zimbabwe’s first player to be drafted into the
in the Basketball Bundesliga in Germany.
National Basketball Association.
Chikoko was born in 1991 and attended Prince
He encouraged the Zimbabwean youth who
Edward High School were he began playing
are interested in sports to pursue their dreams
basketball at age 14 after his coach encouraged
and to stay the course no matter how rocky as
him owing to his height.
“dreams do come true.”
Mokoomba is band founded in Victoria Falls
the Zim Achievers – International Best Touring
Moshito Music Conference showcase Johannes-
and has grown to be one of Africa’s most vi-
Artist 2014 and the ZIMA music award 2014.
burg & 2015 Cape Town NuWorld Festival
brant bands with a sound that fuses traditional Tonga with dashes of Rap, Ska, Soukous and Afro-Cuban music. Mokoomba
have won
Songlines Music Awards – Best Newcomer 2013, NAMA Arts Personality of the Year 2013, ZIMAA Top Touring Artist of the Year 2013,
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Some Career Highlights:
World Music Expo showcase in Greece
European Development Days Awards in
40 day summer tour with debut performances
Stockholm – 2009
at WOMAD (UK, Australia and New Zealand),
Performance at The Festival Couleur Belgium
Roskilde Festival (Denmark) and Gnaoua
-2010
Festival (Morocco)
Ones to Watch
Brandon Joel Zibusiso Galloway is a
Zimbabwean model, blogger and photographer
Colleen Chifamba is a Zimbabwean blogger
Zimbabwean professional English Premier
Natasha Ndlovu is based in London. She
based in Melbourne Australia who blogs about her
League player who plays defender for Everton FC.
writes about fashion, photography and travel
life with a disability. She was born with the birth
while sharing her fashion industry experiences.
defect known as Spinal Befida. Colleen uses her
Galloway was born in 1996 and attended St. Michael’s Primary in Harare before his family
She holds a BA in Visual Arts from the University
moved to the United Kingdom when he was 6
of British Columbia.
years old.
Natasha shares her features in magazines such
He has been likened to former Manchester
as Vanity Fair, British Vogue, Company Magazine,
United and England centre back Rio Ferdinand
Hunger Magazine, as well as collaborating with
due to his pace and comfort on the ball.
brands Boodles, Jimmy Choo, All Saints, Topshop and Asos. Follow her blog: www.bisousnatasha.com
experiences to inspire other people with disabilities. Through her blog “Life Through The Disability Lens” she not only takes readers through an insightful journey on what life with a disability as an African woman is all about but she also challenges readers to change their perspective of disability issues. She writes thought provoking posts that often generate heated discussion on social media and hopes that readers learn something new from each blog post. Follow her blog www.lifethroughthedisabilitylens. com. “
Stansly Maponga is a Zimbabwean professional
He encouraged the Zimbabwean youth by saying
National Football League (NFL) player who plays
“I want to be a role model, I want kids in
for the New York Giants defensive end position.
Zimbabwe to grow up knowing that with God
Maponga was born in 1991 and played rugby in Harare before his family moved to the United States of America when he was 9 years old.
Petina Gappah is a lawyer and writer who was
Short Story Award and could walk away with
raised in Zimbabwe. She writes in both English
£30 000 prize money. This award is the world’s
and Shona.
richest prize for a single short story. Writers from
Petina has law degrees from Cambridge University,
six countries make up the 12 writers longlist.
Graz University in Austria and the University of
Being UK-based, no British writer has won this
Zimbabwe. She lives in France and works as an
award before. In 2010, Petina was up for the
international lawyer in Geneva, Switzerland.
award for her story, An Elegy for Easterly although
Petina has been longlisted for the Sunday Times
she did not win the award.
and hard work nothing is impossible. Faith without works is dead, dream.”
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Entertainment Anashe Media Group
i
n 2015, the names Anashe Media and Brian Soko made headlines following the Grammy Awards event where international superstar Beyoncé walked away with 3 Grammy’s for a hit-song produced by Brian Soko. Winning a Grammy Award remains a musical unicorn and some argue it is the musical equivalent of winning an Academy Award – a musical Oscar.
“Anashe Media Group is a management and marketing company with a focus on African creative industries. We offer management & marketing services to African creative professionals. Essentially, we help them strategize and execute to gain more business in new markets.
to have an African name for our company, one that is easy to pronounce but also has a profound meaning. Our founding team consists of four members: myself (Prince Soko); Brian Soko; Ladi Tandoh (who I met at University and is originally from Nigeria); and Arnold Soko. Currently, Anashe directly manages six artists/producers. From a music production stand-point, we have worked with countless artists from across the continent (including from Nigeria, Zimbabwe and South Africa). Our stable includes the following artists/producers: South Africa: DJ Maphorisa (Uhuru), Cassper Nyovest, KO (Mr. Cash Time) Ma-E, Chad, DJ Vigilante Nigeria: Ice Prince, Run Town, Lamboginny, DJ Xclusive, Sukiyaki, Jay Sleek, Skales Zimbabwe: Simba Tagz, Tina Masawi, Tatenda Kamera, and Samantha Voyce.”
Absolutely, all credit to Brian Soko here. He is a co-founder of Anashe and the main reason we started the company. To give a bit of background, soon after graduating college in 2012, Brian was signed to Warner Chappell as a producer/songwriter with his partners ‘The Order’. In a space of 3 years, they were responsible for producing over 22 songs and working on albums for top US artists, including Nicki Minaj, Ashante, J-Lo, Drake, Lil Wayne, Tyga, Ray J and Future. During this period, one of the projects he got to pitch for was for Beyoncé. When her album dropped in December 2013, he had no idea that the song he produced – ‘Drunk in Love’ – had been selected to be on the album. Even more special, it was ‘THE’ single on the album and went on to be double platinum, winning three Grammys in 2015.
We launched in Boston & Johannesburg in 2013. The name Anashe is Shona which means ‘with God’. We felt that we needed
Brian Soko won a Grammy award for producing Beyoncé’s ‘Drunk in Love’ record in 2015. Take us through that experience.
In 2016, Brian was nominated again for a Grammy under ‘Best Album’ for producing three songs on Nicki Minaj’s ‘Pink Print’
TheZimbabweAchiever.Com interviewed Anashe Media Group co-founder Prince Soko and we began by asking him to introduce the business to us;
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album. This was another major accomplishment and cemented his legacy as a United States ‘super producer’. Brian attributes his success to growing up in Zimbabwe, understanding the value of hard work and believing in your abilities. For Anashe Media Group, Brian’s success has validated the work we do. Having said that, we believe there are many more talented producers/artists like Brian in Zimbabwe and across Africa, we seek to work with. Your thoughts on the music and entertainment scene in Africa? I believe right now, the African music and entertainment scene is very exciting and promises the most rewards if navigated well. It has been a bit of a ‘wild-west’ for us but thanks to social media, the internet and other media platforms, artists have a direct link to their fans and can rapidly grow their fan base. What interests us about this, is that corporate brands are starting to see value in artists who have a large fan base and are eager to partner, bringing benefits to all parties. I think with the help of the corporate sector, African entertainment can reach fantastic heights. Your thoughts on Zimbabweans in the
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music scene globally? There has always been and will continue to be amazing talent in Zimbabwe, both in terms of artists and producers. Naturally, due to the challenges we have had economically in recent years, the entertainment sector has suffered. Zimbabwean artists are fully aware of what they need to do but I feel we’ve lacked the matching investment to expose our music to the world, from a branding and visual delivery standpoint. Slowly, we are beginning to network, share ideas and collaborate with artists from other countries and we are growing. That said, we have many Zimbabweans representing at a global stage already and it is simply a matter of time before we can stamp our brand more consistently. Are there any new aspiring artists that you feel we should look out for in 2016 and going forward? Yes indeed, everybody already knows Tatenda Kamera and Simba Tagz who we expect to make a name for themselves across the continent in 2016, but some names to watch for are Tina Masawi (based in Spain) an exceptional vocalist and performer. We have Young Nash in Harare, a prodigious producer and his partner Prosper Mutsokodi, a singer/ song writer we are very excited about … and
we believe if managed well, can be continental superstars on the AfroMusic scene. To the aspiring artist and producer, what is the one lesson you would share with them? I would offer the advice Brian always offers, which is … to find like-minded people and partner up as you only grown when you network and partner with a group of individuals that help you improve the quality of your product and push you. Past and present, which is the ultimate artist you would love to work with? For our team it is a no brainer, we would love to collaborate with Oliver Mtukudzi and/or Lovemore Majaivana, who are both legends from our parents’ generation and whose music we consider has always had meaning and is timeless.
My Zim 5 – Prince Soko All-time favorite Zimbabwean: 1) Song – Kure (Andy Brown/Chowoniso) 2) Artist – Tuku 3) TV show – Ezomgido 4) Meal – Sadza, Muriwo and nyama 5) Holiday destination – Nyanga.
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Sport Orlando Pirates Forward Tendai Ndoro rriving at the club during a CAF campaign, Tendai Ndoro found it difficult to break into the Orlando Pirates FC first team. However, he has since come a long way from those days and is now a regular goal scorer and fan-favourite for the Soweto giants. In our interview with the striker at his home in Johannesburg, we were joined by Tendai’s mother, his wife and his younger brother Devotion. Born in Harare to a family of seven siblings, Tendai has an identical twin brother Takudzwa, who is currently a goalkeeper for Witbank Spurs FC (in Mpumalanga Province, SA). Amai Ndoro proudly described how he was born bearing a gift from The Almighty and how they noticed from the dusty streets of Nketa 8 in Bulawayo, that the young man was football crazy. In his early days Tendai played football in various places (including in Hwange and Botswana), for various teams. He also played for Chicken Inn, which later sold him to Mpumalanga Black Aces, signalling his relocation to South Africa. From Mpumalanga Black Aces, Tendai Ndoro then moved to his current club, affectionately known as the Buccaneers. We asked Tendai, nicknamed ‘Fire 7’ (after his football idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, ‘CR7’), about the sensation of playing in the famed Soweto Derby in a capacityfilled FNB Stadium. “It’s a great feeling. We used to watch those games back home and grew up dreaming of playing in such games, so it’s a really great feeling to be living the dream. It’s a big game and in that atmosphere you can’t event hear your
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team mates next to you … it’s the biggest game in Africa.” Who do you currently look up to? In life, it has to be God and my parents – they are my biggest influence. Football-wise, I want to be like CR7, Cristiano Ronaldo. What is your ultimate African and Zimbabwean holiday destination and why? Definitely the Victoria Falls … I stayed there for some time and I love it! Growing up in Zimbabwe, which football team did you support? Dynamos FC. What is your favourite football team in Africa and the rest of the world? In Africa I love Dynamos and Orlando Pirates, of course. Internationally, I love to follow my favourite player CR7 so I love Manchester United because he was there and now I also love Real Madrid. What is your message to young up-andcoming footballers who want to walk in your footsteps? Work hard and keep focused. Be patient and listen to your parents. Take what builds you and don’t be afraid to show your talent. Tell us 5 random things we did not know about you. As told by his family: Tendai loves to draw attention to himself when he is at his home church. He fellowships at Guta Ra Mwari. Tendai loves to listen to the gospel music of Winnie Mashaba. He loves to give out memorabilia at his township shops in Nketa 8. Tendai loves to give out boots to up-and-coming players. He’s a very quiet and reserved individual.
My Zim 5 – Tendai Ndoro All-time favorite Zimbabwean: 1) Song – Chiri nani (Oliver Mtukudzi) 2) Artist – Oliver Mtukudzi 3) TV show – Gringo 4) Meal – Sadza and amasi 5) Holiday destination – Victoria Falls
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Sport Kaizer Chiefs Midfielder Willard Katsande icknamed ‘Cheese & Onion’ at his beloved Kaizer Chiefs FC, the 30 year old, Mutoko-born midfielder, Willard Katsande has become a fan-favourite for the Soweto giants, which he joined in 2011 from Ajax Cape Town. As a first team regular, the jersey number 31 maestro has featured in no less than 115 games for the club, with quite a number of those being against archrivals Orlando Pirates FC. Dubbed the ‘Soweto Derby’, this rivalry has some of the most anticipated matches in South Africa, usually filling up the 90 thousand-plus FNB Stadium. We recently caught up with Katsande after one such derby game, where fellow Zimbabwean, Tendai Ndoro stole the show with a brace that saw his Pirates team win, courtesy of his two goals. We asked him what it feels like to be part of the largest football match in South Africa: “It’s always good to feature in these kind of games. We grew up admiring such games as little boys, seeing pictures of the Soweto Derby in magazines and now I’m living that dream. It’s a great feeling to be part of the history of these games.” Where did it all begin for you? Take us through the early stages of your career. When I was young, my dad used to take me to matches during the days when he played for a team called Tanganda (from Mutare). I recall the year when they won the league. By the way, I was named after Willard Khumalo, the late great Highlanders FC star. After my dad passed on, I dropped out of the junior soccer league and joined a second division team called Frontier Steel when I was just 15 years old. I played there from 2001 to 2006 and in 2007, I moved to a team called Highway FC which is unfortunately now defunct. We played in the first division for 2 seasons be-
fore we were promoted to the PSL in 2009. I played there for half-a-season and was then sold to an ambitious club in Harare known as the Gunners, with whom I won the league in 2010. I then I moved to South Africa and joined Ajax CPT, where I played one season before moving to my current club Kaizer Chiefs FC. Who is your biggest career influence and who do you currently look up to as a mentor? Growing up, I used to hear people say that I played like Lloyd Mutasa and later they said my passing game was like that of Ronald Sibanda (whom I started watching keenly and enjoyed his style of play). I also look up to European star Xabi Alonso who I watch whenever he’s playing. He makes football look so simple! My biggest influence by far, however; is my best friend, Hibron Makukutu, who always used to tell me that I would get far in life because of football.
I am a member of the Madzibaba Church (Apostolic faith). I don’t drink nor smoke. I know how to plough using cattle (kurima nemombe). It’s my mother bought me my first pair of boots. I am a very shy person.
My Zim 5 – Willard Katsande All-time favorite Zimbabwean: 1) Song – Charakupa denga (Alick Macheso) 2) Artist – Alick Macheso 3) TV show – Tiriparwendo 4) Meal – Sadza nemaguru (tripe) 5) Holiday destination – Victoria Falls
What is your ultimate African and Zimbabwean holiday destination and why? The African destination I love most is Egypt, because of the Pyramids. In Zimbabwe, I absolutely love the Victoria Falls – a majestic wonder, not only in Zimbabwe but in the whole world. Growing up in Zimbabwe, which football team did you support? We grew up supporting Caps United FC … that during the days of Silver Chingwenje. What is your favourite football team in Africa and the rest of the world? My favourite team in Africa is Kaizer Chiefs and internationally, I support of both Real Madrid and Manchester United. Tell us 5 random things we did not know about you. thezimbabweachiever.com
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Hubs 360 ZimPride Australia 2016. The ZimPride festival is an easter weekend event that nurtures the spirit of one-ness among Zimbabweans living in Australia and neighbouring New Zealand. This year’s ZimPride festival will be held at Steve Woodcock Sports Center in Newton, South Australia, on March 26 and 27. There will be sporting activities such as netball, basketball, kids athletics and other family oriented activities to compliment the football tournament. The festival is expected to attract approximately 1 000 spectators. Entry is free for all. After party live performances from international musicians from Zimbabwe are also lined up. For more information, visit www.zimprideaustralia.com.au/
ZIMEXPO Business Consortium focuses on business development social, empowerment, event management and equity investments. The purpose of ZIMEXPO is to foster relationships among Zimbabweans living in the Diaspora. They will be hosting The Miss Zimbabwe – USA pageant during memorial weekend on Saturday 28 May in Los Angeles, California. This event will include a soccer tournament, a music concert and other networking opportunities. Miss Zimbabwe USA mission is to elicit and crown a young Zimbabwean lady possessing intelligence, beauty and purpose to engage and support the Zimbabwean community living in the American diaspora. Follow Miss Zimbabwe USA on Facebook for more details.
BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. is a youth empowerment organization established in 2006 to promote the arts for young black women and build their self-esteem by changing their outlook on life and helping them to empower themselves. Zimbabwean-American playwright and actor Danai Gurira will be receiving the Star Power Award at the prestigious Black Girls Rock Awards event on Tuesday 5 April in New York. Gurira is the author of two plays running in New York City; Eclipsed, starring Lupita Nyong’o, and Familiar, about a Zimbabwean family in America. Currently she stars as “Michonne” in the AMC series “The Walking Dead”. For more information visit: ww.blackgirlsrockinc.com and www.almasiarts.org
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Hubs 360 The Britain Zimbabwe Society in partnership with the Oxford African Studies Centre and Zimbabwe Health Training Support will be hosting a Research Day on the 18th of June 2016 and the theme is: Health and Politics in Zimbabwe and the Diasporas. The event will be held at St. Antony’s College, Nissan Theatre in Oxford from 8:30am to 5:30pm. The 2016 Research Day will examine the politics of health provision, health culture, change and development, exploring history, personalities, practice and impacts. The experiences of Zimbabwean health professionals abroad will be a key part of the conversation. Research Day 2016 will include a mix of well-known and up and coming researchers and practitioners, academics and non-academics. It will be a forum for debate, shared experiences, new research and future thinking. Visit www.britain-zimbabwe.org.uk for more information.
Ngugi Velly Vere is an internationally renowned Zimbabwean born fashion stylist/creative consultant; he also produced the Soweto Fashion Week. Velly was the first African contestant to take part in the Fashion 1 TV Styling reality series show ‘Style Wars’ which was filmed in Asia under Bigfoot Studios back in 2012. On the 5th to the 8th of May 2016, Ngugi Vere will be producing and directing The Kiambu Fashion Week at the Herisquare Lounge in Ruaka Kenya. For more information, follow Facebook Kiambu Fashion Week and www.ngugivere.co.za
The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair is an annual exhibition and one of the largest intraregional trade fairs in Africa. The 57th edition of ZITF will run from 26-30 April 2016 under the theme, “Innovate-Integrate-Industrialise” to address the critical issues of innovation, industrialisation and regional integration which are essential to increasing the global GDP contribution of Zimbabwe. ZITF provides an ideal setting to engage deal-makers and the new industrialists first-hand. 2016 Expo Diary 26 – 28 April: Two exclusive business days 27 April: The annual International Business Conference 28 April: ZITF Golf Challenge 29 April: ZITF 2016 Official Opening Ceremony 29 – 30 April: Two days open to the general public For more information visit www.zitf.net
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Reviews The customer funded business – John Mullins, PHD (Wiley) © 2014 In 2015 I picked up the book that we are reviewing in this issue from a colleague. Needless to say that the book went on to change my outlook on business funding and propelled a much needed paradigm shift in this area. The impact of the book has landed it on the review page of the first issue of TheZimbabweAchiever.Com
The entrepreneur and author turned business school professor presents some great insights that I believe every person in business should be exposed to. The book is thoughtfully put together and presented in a simple but extremely insightful manner. One of my favourite quotes in the book is from Simon Rothman who notes, ‘Liquidity isn’t the most important thing. It’s the only thing.’ I think anyone who has ever run a business can immediately give relate to that. A definite ‘must read.’
Like the author, I too, in business, have ‘accumulated the scares and bruises that are always the surest sign of learning’. Ask any entrepreneur what their greatest challenges in business are and one of the responses will doubtless be that of funding or finance. Whether its seed or start-up capital, expansion capital or the usual suspect of working capital, most people in business have had to deal with a funding issue at some point or another. The book’s tag line is ‘Start, finance or grow your company with your customer’s cash’. Dr. Mullins draws attention to 5 models through which entrepreneurs can seek and source funding from their client base and which model is best applicable in particular instances. Companies like Airbnb, IBM, GoViral and Banana Republic are referenced as case studies in the publication. Without giving too much away, one of the models discussed is the ‘Matchmaker’ model, ‘in which the business, with no or limited investment upfront, brings together buyers and sellers – without actually owning what is bought and sold’. This facilitation is naturally done on a commission revenue structure, through which an entrepreneur can fund and grow their business, according to Mullins. Companies like eBay and Airbnb are classic ‘matchmaker’ model businesses together with industries like property brokering or realty.
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The hateful eight – Quentin Tarantino© 2015 Vision Romantica Quentin Tarantino (QT) is a revered name in Hollywood and a celebrated director with movies such as Pulp Fiction and Inglorious Basterds under his belt, having won an Oscar for the former in the category of Best Writing. Billed as ‘The 8th movie by Quentin Tarantino’ The Hateful Eight hit cinemas and one, with the benefit of hindsight, had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing it. I found the 2015 motion picture lacking a classic story line and central theme, which I believe makes any movie a good movie. Apart from the constant and witty reference to ‘Minnie’s Haberdashery’ by the character played by Samuel L. Jackson, the movie provided very little else in entertainment value for me. The blizzard setting of the movie made for an interesting contrast with the heat waves expe-
rienced in Southern Africa of late, courtesy of that guy, El Nino. The strange looking ‘Christ on the Cross’ wooden sculpture at the beginning and several times during the movie did very little to warm one’s heart to the film. Just what the point of that was, perhaps on QT and his production team know. Having tried (and failed) to watch another QT movie, Django Unchained, one cannot help but find these two pieces of work demeaning to people of African origin. The constant use of the ‘N’ word in this movie left me with a very bitter tasting mouth and I could only imagine how others who saw it with me felt. After using the derogatory term so much in the film, do you go back to calling black folk by the politically correct terms or do you secretly continue using the “N” word in reference to them? One only wonders. Despite this personal discomfort, the movie simply failed to live up the ‘big name’ status of its director and some of its ‘A-list’ cast that includes Kurt Russel and Channing Tatum. Ultimately, the story line is weak and the level of violence and profanity is unbecoming of the classic Western, which I suspect it was intended to be. Perhaps die-hard QT fans and lovers of the ‘Western’ movie genre will vehemently disagree with this assertion and grumble at this review. Before my stoning can commence, let me hasten to say that these views belong to the reviewer and are not necessarily shared by the publication, its publisher, its clients or any of its internal or external stakeholders and strategic partners. A definite ‘miss.’
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Visit Zimbabwe, in Africa, and enjoy a lifetime experience with Rainbow Tourism Group, with its combination of business and resort hotels conveniently located throughout Zimbabwe... A’Zambezi River Lodge ... The only resort on the riverbank of the Zambezi River in Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel ... Only 5 minutes away from the Victoria Falls
Rainbow Towers Hotel & Conference Centre ... Zimbabwe’s Ultimate Business Hotel & Convention Centre in the capital city, Harare
South Africa: +27 11 463 4470/6004 | res@rtgrsa.co.za Zimbabwe: +263 4 772633-9 | reservations@rtg.co.zw www.rtgafrica.com thezimbabweachiever.com
RTG 2
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