Businesswoman raises flag high in UAE

Sunday Mail Reporter

AFRICA Grain and Seed (AGS) vice-president, Mrs Zandile Matiwaza-Denga, last week raised the Zimbabwean flag high after walking away with an award at the Fin Women Awards in the United Arab Emirates.

AGS is a Pan-African organisation focused on making marginalised rural communities economically self-sufficient through agriculture. The awards were held in Dubai under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Saeed bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan.

The theme was, “The Road to a Prosperous Africa”.

Mrs Matiwaza-Denga has championed the development of the agricultural sector through several programmes in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Zambia.

AGS partnered with several international and local companies to establish a US$3,28 million Buy Back Scheme (BBS) that witnessed the company donate agricultural inputs including seedlings and fruit trees to farmers before buying back the produce.

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), communities in Bulawayo, Gwanda, Esigodini Agricultural College, Falcon College and local churches were among the beneficiaries. Her other programme witnessed her company availing 700 000 mixed seedlings to about 100 schools countrywide as part of a climate change mitigation initiative.

Mrs Matiwaza-Denga said she is humbled by the recognition.

“I would like to thank my husband and partner (Mr Anthony Denga) for being there with me on my journey as he has played an integral role in my development from the beginning of my career.

“I would also like to thank our partners with a vision for Africa, including Kampay for bringing digital solutions to Zimbabwe and the SADC region in the financial services, education and agriculture sectors and their personal mentorship.”

Mrs Matiwaza-Denga hailed the Second Republic for creating an investor-friendly economic enivornment.

“We need to appreciate that Zimbabwe is at a stage where the leaders from the Government have made it possible for us as young people to participate because of President Mnangagwa’s open for business call.

“Every investment that AGS has come up with is a result of the Second Republic’s mantra of development,” said Mrs Matiwaza-Denga.