James Makamba
The SA-based company, Makamba Online, said the business breakfast penciled for Sandton, Johannesburg, will be a combined effort of it and various partners and sponsors.
Its main focus would be making it easy for African entrepreneurs to meet influential business people, it said.
“The event will provide Africans around the continent the opportunity to network, assist, uplift others and exchange thoughts that embolden building African entrepreneurs in businesses,†Makamba Group marketing and programme manager Jane Charuma said.
“The initiative will support existing and emerging entrepreneurs with financial advisory services, business consultancy services, business strategy services and mentorship.â€
The African Entrepreneurship Exchange Breakfast, to be held on the 25 February 2016, will be Makamba Online’s first ever forum of this sort, the company said.
Topics such as technology, markets, finance, policy frameworks will be at the fore of discussions, benefiting both start- ups and established businesses.
The future of African economies could be promoted in this way, via such exchange programmes, according to Makamba Online.
It would be the latest in a string of initiatives that the magnate, also a well-known philanthropist, has spearheaded from his SA base.
Makamba fled his native Zimbabwe in 2005 after he fell out with authorities on allegations that he violated the country’s financial laws.
In what critics saw as politically-motivated, Makamba was arrested in 2004 during a crackdown on prominent businessmen accused of illegally externalising foreign currency.
The former owner of the now defunct Joy TV skipped bail the following year and took refuge in neighbouring SA after spending some time behind bars.
Those who suffered the same fate include Mutumwa Mawere, Mthuli Ncube, Nicholas Vingirai, Gilbert Muponda, Julius Makoni, and John Moxon, to name a few business people.
A contentious government decision last year to take over telecoms operator Telecel was widely seen as just another attempt by political foes to settle personal scores against Makamba. He held a 40% stake in Telecel Zimbabwe.
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