Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
WHAT began as a young Bulawayo man’s determination to establish himself in the property sector has evolved into a 16-year international career spanning some of the world’s most competitive real estate markets, earning Brian Sango global recognition for promoting Zimbabwe’s presence on the international stage.
Sango, a Zimbabwean property investment specialist, was recently honoured at the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards (ZAA) Global ceremony in Harare, where he received a Global Achiever award in recognition of his contribution to international real estate investment and cross-border business development.
For the 35-year-old, the accolade represents more than just professional recognition. It marks a significant milestone in a journey that began more than a decade ago when he first received recognition from the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards while still in the early stages of his career.
In 2015, Sango was named Business Professional of the Year by the South African chapter of the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards.
Eleven years later, he returned to the ZAA platform as an internationally recognised property professional whose work now stretches across Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
“Back in 2015, the South African chapter of the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards honoured me as Business Professional of the Year. Fast forward 11 years later and we are still in the property game, still grinding, but this time being recognised on a global scale as an ambassador flying the Zimbabwean flag high across the world,” he said.
Sango has spent 14 of his 16 years in the property sector specialising in sales and investment advisory services.
He built his reputation in South Africa before expanding his footprint into international markets including Cyprus, Greece, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
Sango now serves as an international investment consultant for Global Residential, advising high-net-worth individuals, institutional investors and members of the Zimbabwean diaspora on offshore property investments, capital allocation strategies and premium real estate opportunities.
His experience has also extended beyond traditional property investment to include commercial expansion and the hospitality industry.
As a strategic location scout for Life and Brand Portfolio, Sango has played a key role in identifying and securing prime sites for international restaurant brands such as La Parada and Tiger’s Milk during their expansion into Zimbabwe.
His involvement in the hospitality sector continues to grow, with another major outlet scheduled to open in Botswana later this year.
For Sango, however, the latest recognition is as much about the journey behind the success as it is about the award itself.
“It takes a lot of invisible hours, consistency and pure grit to keep pushing the needle forward when you’re building across borders. Receiving this Global Honorary Award is a deeply humbling milestone, but more than anything, it’s a testament to the will to just keep going,” he said.
Sango said entrepreneurial success often masks years of uncertainty, sacrifice and pressure that are rarely visible to the public.
“When people see the accolades, it’s easy to glorify the end result. But as entrepreneurs and business owners, we rarely talk about the heavy lifting behind closed doors, the immense mental stress, the dark times and the quiet seasons spent navigating challenges just to tie two ends together,” he said.
“Those exact pressures build character, and character is everything in business. It is what keeps you on the stage over a decade later.”
The Harare ceremony carried added significance for Sango, as it was the first time he had received a major industry award in Zimbabwe while surrounded by family and close friends.
“What made it truly special was having my family right there to embrace it with me. Celebrating an honour on home soil for the very first time hits completely differently. Getting to reunite and celebrate the moment with old friends made the night even better,” he said.
Sango attributed his success to faith, family support, professional relationships and the teams he has worked alongside throughout his career.
“First and foremost, I owe this to God. Massive gratitude to my family for always pushing me, to the phenomenal colleagues I’ve shared rooms with over the last 16 years and to my current team at Global Residential,” he said.
