Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Dete
THE 2026 ELISA Business Summit opened in Hwange on Thursday, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and institutional leaders from across Africa to deliberate on strategies for scaling enterprises beyond national borders.
The summit, hosted by the Enterprise Leaders and Innovators Society for Africa (ELISA), is running under the theme: “Business Beyond Borders”, and focuses on strengthening cross-border trade, investment alignment, supply chain systems and enterprise leadership.
In her opening remarks, ELISA founder and chief executive, Ms Elisabeth Valerio said Africa was entering a new phase of economic integration, driven by evolving trade frameworks and increasing connectivity across markets.
“We are meeting at a time when Africa’s markets are becoming increasingly connected. The question is not whether opportunity exists, but whether we are positioned for what is to come,” she said.
Ms Valerio said while integration presents opportunities, it also requires African businesses to build capacity and strengthen production systems to remain competitive.
“Integration without capacity creates exposure, and integration without production creates dependence,” she said.
Ms Valerio noted that many African enterprises were beginning to expand beyond their home markets, but faced challenges related to systems development, supply chains, regulatory environments and access to aligned capital.
“For decades, enterprise in Africa has largely been structured around survival within a single market. The shift now is towards regional competitiveness, and that transition must be deliberate,” she said.
Ms Valerio added that sustainable growth would depend on strengthening production capacity, improving standards and promoting value addition to ensure African businesses participate meaningfully in continental trade.
At the heart of the summit is a strong focus on emerging entrepreneurs. Ten standout founders from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Rwanda, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Namibia and Malawi are set to pitch their ventures in the Beyond Borders Live Pitch – a platform designed to spotlight scalable, cross-market solutions.
Traditional leaders attending the event, including Chief Dingani-Nelukoba, Acting Chief Shana and Chief Mvuthu, called on entrepreneurs to embrace innovation and develop solutions that respond to local and regional challenges.
Chief Dingani-Nelukoba urged business leaders to take advantage of emerging opportunities brought about by regional integration and to adopt forward-looking approaches to enterprise development.
Also in attendance is the Director for Coordination in the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Tapera Mugoriya, reflecting Government’s interest in promoting enterprise growth and economic development across provinces.
The summit programme includes plenary discussions, masterclasses for emerging entrepreneurs and executive forums for established business leaders, as well as the Enterprise Leaders Dinner, which recognises participants in the ELISA Business Scholars Programme.
Organisers said the summit is aimed at fostering practical engagement and strengthening collaboration between business leaders, investors and policymakers to drive economic growth across African markets.
The ELISA Business Summit is expected to become an annual Pan-African platform hosted in Hwange, focusing on enterprise development, investment flows and cross-border collaboration.
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu