Online Reporter
Nelson Gahadza
Senior Business Reporter
BARD Santner Markets Incorporated, a local financial advisory and investment firm that facilitated Nigerian billionaire Mr Aliko Dangote’s second visit to Zimbabwe, says the businessman’s visit was a testament to progress in the improving investment climate and economic stability.
Aliko Dangote’s net worth is estimated to be around US$26,2 billion to US$30,6 billion as of November 2025, making him the wealthiest person in Africa. His wealth is primarily derived from his investments in his oil refinery, cement, and sugar businesses.
Mr Dangote first visited Zimbabwe in 2015 to scout for investment in sectors such as cement, coal mining and power generation.
Bard Santner chief executive Mr Senziwani Sikhosana, in an interview on the sidelines of Mr Dangote’s meeting with President Mnangagwa at State House on Wednesday, said the previous engagements did not yield the desired results.
But this time, Mr Dangote has expressed interest in exploring new opportunities in Zimbabwe.“We were very frank with what happened last time, and we said, ‘Look, things have changed, and we as financial advisors are getting involved’.
“We would help in structuring the investments and would follow through, making sure that things are quick. But above all, it is about the new dispensation, and things have changed,” he said.
Mr Sikhosana added that the investment environment has improved and is now stable; as such, it was time for the Dangote group to visit once again.
“But at the same time, we can’t be the only country that doesn’t have a Dangote investment. They are investing in Africa, and we are one of the African countries, so they said they could just give us a shot again, and we are coming in as a team,” he said.
The billionaire runs Dangote Industries Limited, a Lagos-based diversified conglomerate with vast business interests in the cement, flour, sugar, salt, pasta, beverages, fertiliser, real estate, oil and gas sectors, and logistics.
Its operations span other critical business interests, including a large oil refinery, petrochemical plant and fertiliser complex in Nigeria and 16 other African countries.
The Dangote group plans to invest over US$1 billion, including in cement manufacturing, coal mining, power generation and fuel pipelines from Walvis Bay.
Mr Sikhosana said Zimbabwe had always been Mr Dangote’s favourite investment destination, and he wanted to invest here before going into Zambia.
“He wanted to start with Zimbabwe, but when he built in Zambia, it was an afterthought; Zimbabwe was the original plan. If somebody had to convince him of the proper structure, he was always going to look at Zimbabwe again,” he said.
He said that as an investment advisory firm, the company has done its part and the Dangote Group had sent the right signal.
Mr Sikhosana also highlighted that the key investment areas the billionaire would consider included cement, a development that could see a drastic fall in the price of cement in the country.
“He will also look at a power plant; coal mining and fertiliser manufacturing are also areas of interest, while the sugar industry is also under consideration,” he said.
Mr Sikhosana said his investment firm, over the past 3 years, had become a financial institution that creates a framework for foreign direct investment.
“We are talking to investors from China, Germany and the United States to see if they can come in. But we need to learn from this one to prove ourselves, whether we can actually put up a framework for foreign direct investment.
“We hope after this, people can then have a way of getting in, where we cut out bureaucracy and do the right things,” he said.
Mr Dangote, recently at an Afreximbank gathering, underlined the need for Pan-African investments and regional and economic development and integration, taking advantage of the continental free trade agreements, as well as value addition.
The African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, to which Zimbabwe is an active participant, creates a single continental market for goods and services, aiming to boost intra-African trade, economic growth and industrialisation.
