Top Business Leaders in Zimbabwe
Marcopolis ranked the top business leaders in Zimbabwe, as part of the business report on the country. Businessmen Strive Masiyiwa of Econet Group, Douglas Mboweni of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and Herbert Nkala of FBC Holdings, rank at the top the list of the most powerful business leaders in Zimbabwe.
Marcopolis ranked the top business leaders in Zimbabwe, as part of the business report on the country. Businessmen Strive Masiyiwa of Econet Group, Douglas Mboweni of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and Herbert Nkala of FBC Holdings, rank at the top the list of the most powerful business leaders in Zimbabwe.
The List
#1 – Strive Masiyiwa: One of the pioneers of the mobile telecoms industry in Africa, Strive Masiyiwa is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Econet Group, which comprises Cassava Technologies (Africa’s leading technology company of continental scale) and Econet Wireless (the mobile telephone networks and mobile money business of Econet Group, with operations in Botswana, Burundi, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe). Born in Zimbabwe, Mr Masiyiwa is now based in London. He currently serves on several international boards including Unilever Plc, Netflix Inc., Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, National Geographic Society, the Global Advisory councils of Bank of America, and Bloomberg New Economy Forum.
#2 – Dr Douglas Mboweni: Dr Douglas Mboweni is the CEO of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, the country’s leading provider of telecom services, and has over 20 years of executive management experience in the Information Technology and Telecommunications Industry. Under his stewardship, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has leveraged innovation in the face of difficult economic conditions to grow its subscriber base from two hundred thousand in 2002 to over twelve million today, commanding market share of above 65%. Dr. Mboweni was instrumental in the promotion of local mobile financial services through Ecocash, up to the unbundling and listing of its parent company, Cassava Smartech on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.
#3 – Herbert Nkala: Herbert Nkala is a businessman best known for being the Chairman of investment holding company FBC Holdings. He is also Chairman and Director of several other companies, which are listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. Presently, Mr. Nkala is Non-Executive Chairman of Tanganda Tea Co. Ltd, Independent Non-Executive Chairman at OK Zimbabwe Ltd, Chairman at Turnall Fibre Cement Pvt Ltd, Chairman at Zimbabwe Grain Bag Pvt Ltd, and Managing Director at Arena Investments Pvt Ltd.
#4 – Douglas Hoto: Douglas Hoto is an accomplished business leader and currently holds the reins at First Mutual Holdings as Group CEO. Mr Hoto started his actuarial career with Old Mutual in 1990 and worked in both the Harare and Cape Town offices until 1999, when he joined First Mutual Life. He rose through the ranks to become Managing Director of First Mutual Life in 2003 and Chief Executive of First Mutual Limited in 2004. Mr Hoto was instrumental in setting up First Mutual Reinsurance Company, TristarInsurance Company and African Actuarial Consultants from a Division of First Mutual Life Assurance Society.
#5 – Shingai Mutasa: Shingai Mutasa commenced his career in commodity trading. He subsequently acquired a strategic stake in TA Holdings Limited, a diversified conglomerate which was then listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, and later transformed into Masawara Plc. His investment philosophy is hinged on an operator-investor model, thus Masawara is significantly involved in the operations and strategic thrust of all its investee companies. As Group CEO, he spearheads the vision and strategic focus, leads in capital allocation and pursues business opportunities that align with Masawara’s vision and mission. He also currently serves on several boards across a spectrum of sectors and industries.
#6 – John Moxon: John Moxon is a prominent businessman with interests in Zimbabwe’s retail, banking, insurance, properties and mining industries. He is mostly known for his position as the Executive Chairman of Meikles Limited, which is one of Zimbabwe’s most successful companies. Moxon joined Meikles group in 1970. In 1980, he was appointed chair of Tanganda Tea Limited, which was an affiliate entity of Meikles Africa Limited. In 1983, he was appointed Chairman of Meikles Consolidated Holdings Private Limited. In 1996, he was appointed non-executive chairman of Meikles Africa in the Department of Consumer Goods Fashion and Retail. He was re-appointed Chairman of Meikles Limited in June 2011.
#7 – Muchadeyi Ashton Masunda: Muchadeyi Ashton Masunda is a businessman who has been at the helm of 11 different companies and is Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Bindura Nickel Corp. Ltd, Chairman of Commercial Arbitration Centre, Chairman for Harare International Festival of The Arts, Chairman for Zimbabwe Sugar Association, Chairman at John Sisk & Son Ltd, Chairman for Old Mutual Life Assurance Company Zimbabwe Ltd, and Chairman for Atlas Copco Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd. He is also on the board of Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe Ltd. In the past he was Non-Executive Chairman of Meikles Ltd, Deputy Chairman at Zimplats Holdings Ltd, Chairman of Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (Pvt) Ltd, and Co-President of United Cities & Local Governments.
#8 – Todd Moyo: Todd Moyo currently holds the position of Non-Executive Chairman for National Foods Holdings Ltd, and Non-Executive Chairman at PPC Zimbabwe Ltd. He is also Member of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe, Member of Institute of Directors (Zimbabwe), and Member of Computer Society of Zimbabwe, and sits on the board of 5 other companies. In the past Mr Moyo was Council Member at Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries and Chairman and CEO of Datlabs Pvt Ltd.
#9 – Kumbirayi Katsande: Kumbirai Katsande is a businessman who has been the head of 6 different companies. Currently, he holds the position of Independent Non-Executive Chairman at Nampak Zimbabwe Ltd, Independent Non-Executive Chairman at Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe Ltd, and Chairman of Old Mutual Zimbabwe Ltd. Mr Katsande is also on the board of Boc Zimbabwe Gases, and Chairman at Nestlé Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd. In the past, he occupied the position of President at Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, CEO and Managing Director at Ariston Holdings Ltd, COO Manufacturing at PG Industries (Zimbabwe) Ltd, Cluster Manager at Nestlé Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd, and Cluster Manager at Nestlé Zambia.
#10 – Nigel Chanakira: Nigel Chanakira is an African economist, entrepreneur, banker, success coach, and philanthropist. He is currently Group Executive at fintech company Riskflow, with specific focus on distributing the Apps, Cashflow Optimizer for the individual ( CFO4i) and for business (CFO4b), which he helped originate. Mr Chanakira is also Resident Representative for Zimbabwe at PUM Netherlands, and Chairperson of SOTZIM, which focuses on the fight against COVID-19. He is a former chairperson of the Zimbabwe Investment Authority.