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Josey Mahachi hails Dangote's return to Zimbabwe
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Veteran journalist and entrepreneur Josey Mahachi breathed a deep sigh of relief as she walked through the arrival gates at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Wednesday. Her return marked the end of an arduous 18-month journey-one that revived negotiations between herself, Bard Santner CEO Senziwani Sikhosana, and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, culminating in a potential US$1 billion investment deal for Zimbabwe.
For Mahachi, the breakthrough represents the revival of a dream nearly lost a decade ago. Dangote's first visit to Zimbabwe in 2015 sparked excitement and hope that Africa's richest man would establish a cement plant and inject significant capital into the struggling economy. But those ambitions were derailed by what Mahachi described as a "toxic business environment" under the late President Robert Mugabe's administration, leading Dangote to abandon plans to invest.
"Honestly, I do not want to lie. I had really closed the Zimbabwean chapter between Aliko Dangote and my country," Mahachi said. "I almost blocked the cousin who asked me to restart this process because of the stress I went through in 2015. Fast forward, here we are. It took only one word to Aliko - 'let's try again'."
Dangote arrived in Zimbabwe last week to sign a fresh commitment, signalling renewed confidence in the country's economic reforms under President Emmerson Mnangagwa. His new investment interests span cement production, coal mining, power generation, and constructing fuel pipelines from Walvis Bay, Namibia.
According to Mahachi, convincing Dangote to revisit Zimbabwe was far from easy, requiring persistence, collaboration, and reassurance. Together with Sikhosana, she travelled to Nigeria to engage the Dangote leadership directly—an effort that eventually paved the way for the billionaire's second chance at Zimbabwe.
Sikhosana described the new agreement as a defining moment for the country. "The historic visit between the government of Zimbabwe and Dangote Industries is a turning point," he said. "We were honoured to advise and play a midwife. This moment is not just a transaction - it is a declaration that Zimbabwe is back on the map. It is a sign that global capital is beginning to listen. We started this journey in June 2024 - no leak, no whisper, no breach."
With the deal now signed, Dangote has already activated the next phase of implementation. His technical team is expected to land in Zimbabwe this Sunday to begin groundwork on the planned multi-sector investments.
Mahachi, who once thought the opportunity was gone forever, now sees the moment as a personal and national triumph—a second chance for Zimbabwe to secure one of Africa's most transformative investors.
For Mahachi, the breakthrough represents the revival of a dream nearly lost a decade ago. Dangote's first visit to Zimbabwe in 2015 sparked excitement and hope that Africa's richest man would establish a cement plant and inject significant capital into the struggling economy. But those ambitions were derailed by what Mahachi described as a "toxic business environment" under the late President Robert Mugabe's administration, leading Dangote to abandon plans to invest.
"Honestly, I do not want to lie. I had really closed the Zimbabwean chapter between Aliko Dangote and my country," Mahachi said. "I almost blocked the cousin who asked me to restart this process because of the stress I went through in 2015. Fast forward, here we are. It took only one word to Aliko - 'let's try again'."
Dangote arrived in Zimbabwe last week to sign a fresh commitment, signalling renewed confidence in the country's economic reforms under President Emmerson Mnangagwa. His new investment interests span cement production, coal mining, power generation, and constructing fuel pipelines from Walvis Bay, Namibia.
According to Mahachi, convincing Dangote to revisit Zimbabwe was far from easy, requiring persistence, collaboration, and reassurance. Together with Sikhosana, she travelled to Nigeria to engage the Dangote leadership directly—an effort that eventually paved the way for the billionaire's second chance at Zimbabwe.
Sikhosana described the new agreement as a defining moment for the country. "The historic visit between the government of Zimbabwe and Dangote Industries is a turning point," he said. "We were honoured to advise and play a midwife. This moment is not just a transaction - it is a declaration that Zimbabwe is back on the map. It is a sign that global capital is beginning to listen. We started this journey in June 2024 - no leak, no whisper, no breach."
With the deal now signed, Dangote has already activated the next phase of implementation. His technical team is expected to land in Zimbabwe this Sunday to begin groundwork on the planned multi-sector investments.
Mahachi, who once thought the opportunity was gone forever, now sees the moment as a personal and national triumph—a second chance for Zimbabwe to secure one of Africa's most transformative investors.
Source - newzimbabwe
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