As part of Sankalp Africa Summit 2020, four SEED representatives joined a panel on impact investing in Zimbabwe to do some myth busting and explain present investment opportunities in the country. Moderated by Finding XY’s Eddie Sembatya, two Zimbabwe based enterprises and one BDS provider that supports enterprises in Zimbabwe were present.

Tonderai from Biogenesis, an early stage enterprise focused on cultivating sweet potatoes sustainably and training local communities to become potato outgrowers, spoke of Zimbabwe’s diversified economy – with opportunities across energy, accommodation services and agriculture. Tonderai also spoke of its strategic location, as a regional gateway to surrounding countries.

Lawrence Hoba from Enrapower, a B2B renewable energy business, spoke about his experience in growing his business in adverse conditions. He pointed out that he was able to grow his business, create sales revenue without external support and prove his model, now expanding into Zambia and Malawi and Namibia. While he recognised the inflation issues, he pointed to the nimbleness of local enterprises such as his in working around challenges, through leveraging diaspora and other US funding and banking channels. He made a strong call for impact investment in all SDG areas from smart cities to zero hunger.

BDS provider Nsangu Siwale from Klyn Consulting which provides business support to eight Zimbabwe based enterprises, qualified some of the bad press that Zimbabwe gets. He pointed to investment opportunities in renewable energy, with last mile needs prevalent, and climate-smart agriculture, given Zimbabwe’s rural nature and its potential impact women and youth.

Interested in what else was discussed at Sankalp? Have a look here: https://africasummit2020.sankalpforum.com/