US President Barack Obama currently in Kenya has while ignoring African Union Chair President Robert Mugabe(dropped from his Africa visit itinerary), chosen rather to meet a group of (14)fourteen young Zimbabweans who were this week flown out of Harare to Nairobi.
United States ambassador Bruce Wharton said the fourteen Zimbabweans attending the sixth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 25-26, 2015 represent the human capital that forms the foundation that will stimulate economic prosperity in Zimbabwe.
“Over the last three years in Zimbabwe, you guys have renewed my understanding of the depth of that intellectual capital and I have made it a talking point wherever I go. When I am asked about the resources in Zimbabwe—whether it is mining or agriculture— I keep pointing out that it’s the human capital here that is the most exciting. And that is what you all represent,” said Ambassador Wharton. The U.S. Ambassador met the delegation on Wednesday at an event hosted by the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section prior to the group’s departure for Nairobi. Ambassador Wharton congratulated the delegates for being selected to participate in the prestigious global event, and challenged them to form a network, create partnerships, and to share ideas amongst each other and the other participants at the summit that will help build a better tomorrow.
The invited Zimbabwean entrepreneurs include Constantine Nyanzero of Emerging Ideas and founder of ‪Pitch Nights; Shamiso Ruzvidzo, proprietor of Fashion Weekend Zimbabwe; Jabulani Mpofu, co-founder of Saisai Wireless, Sky Hub, and NeoLabs; Tafadzwa Makura, founder of Mazwi and Emaji Water; Thule Lenneiye, founder of e-vend and co-founder of Innovation Baraza; Nomvula Mhambi of Disruptive Innovations, Sibusisiwe Bango of Empretec Zimbabwe; Phillip Bvekwa of Sylinepromo; Rinesh Desai of the Hypercube Hub; Tawanda Chikosi of Chikosi Technology; Bernard Juru of Muzinda Hub; and Virginia Sibanda of Virl Microfinance.
They also include young Zimbabwean tech-entrepreneur Takunda Chingonzo who will join leading global technology leaders for a discussion session at the Summit scheduled for this weekend in Nairobi, Kenya. Chingonzo, will share the stage with Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore; Facebook/Internet.org Vice President Chris Daniels; Uber Regional General Manager for EMEA Jambu Palaniappan; Google Access representative Larry Alder; and Zubin Chagpar of Amazon.com. The session will be moderated by Stephen Ozoigbo, Founder/CEO of the Silicon Valley-based African Technology Foundation. The panel discussion will explore how technologies are disrupting business models and transforming how new businesses emerge, scale, and are able to become global enterprises.
Takunda is the co-founder of Neolab Technology, a multi award-winning “start-up factory” and social enterprise. Along with Mr. Mpofu, he is a co-founder of Saisai Wireless, a startup that offers high speed internet that improves in performance as more people join the network – avoiding load sharing and bandwidth challenges.
The sixth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 24-26, 2015. President Barack Obama will participate in the Summit, which will include approximately 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, educators, government officials, and business representatives.