Online Reporter
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Zimbabwean-born, United States-based business strategist and author Michael Tendai Watyoka has challenged companies operating in Africa to turn their untapped potential into bankable opportunities.
He was speaking at the 11th CEO Africa Annual Roundtable at the Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls.
The roundtable, which is running under the theme “Future-Ready Africa: Connecting Ideas, Creating Value,” has been running since Tuesday and ends on Saturday.
Watyoka challenged African enterprises to break free from survival-driven models and embrace structures that attract investment and deliver consistent impact.
“Africa’s story is not just about untapped potential—it’s about the urgent need to turn that potential into bankable opportunities,” Watyoka said.
“We must shift our mindset from mere survival to building systems and institutions that can scale, attract capital and deliver real value for our people and our investors.”
Watyoka’s address resonated with the roundtable’s broader calls for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, particularly in building resilient economies and creating inclusive opportunities for youth and SMEs.
He said Africa’s growth will not come from aid, but from building robust institutions that unlock value and attract international financiers.
“We are sitting on brilliant ideas, but ideas alone are not enough,” Watyoka said.
“We need to toast these ideas—refine them, systemise them, and build the infrastructure that turns them into reality. Investors are looking for value-added opportunities, not just promises.
“When we build institutions that unlock value, the funding will follow—naturally, mathematically.”
“Africa’s future is not a dream. It’s a project. And it’s time we move from talking about what could be, to building what must be.
“That means changing the way we do things, embracing global best practices, and localising them for our unique context.”
Watyoka’s message struck a chord with delegates seeking actionable strategies for Africa’s economic transformation.
His views on moving from “potential to performance” and from “ideas to impact” encapsulates the sense of urgency and possibility that defines this year’s gathering.
“Leaving this roundtable, I am deeply inspired—and equally challenged,” Watyoka said.
“The conversations here are not just about what Africa could become, but what we must build now to realise that vision. The time for action is now.”
The CEO Africa Annual Roundtable brings together top executives, investors, and policymakers to shape Africa’s economic future.
The 2025 edition is the largest in its history, with a focus on strategic thinking, business development, and investment opportunities.
