Harare – Leading financial advisory company Bard Santner is facilitating Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote US$1 billion investment to Zimbabwe which will be in cement manufacturing, electricity generation and coal mining.
Dangote, is not new to Zimbabwe as he once came to Harare during the Robert Mugabe era.
But the deals were not sealed.
However, with the involvement of Bard Santner, Dangote is set to make a major investment into the southern African country.
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been inviting investors to grow the country’s economy.
Bard Santner Markets Incorporated led by its Chief Executive,Senziwani Sikhosana is leading the facilitation of the business deal.
German based Zimbabwean journalist Josephine Mahachi are at the forefront of helping Dangote invest in Zimbabwe.
Presidential advisor, Paul Tungwarara and the Zimbabwe government are also involved to make the deal a success.
President Mnangagwa has vowed to bring much needed investment to grow the country’s economy. The veteran leader want to see Zimbabwe achieve an upper middle class society by 2030.
Tungwarara said Dangote will jet into Zimbabwe soon.
“The richest man in Africa is coming to Zimbabwe at the invitation of President Mnangagwa. The two have been in constant communication and we are presently working on the logistical aspects of the visit. We are keen to ensure that he makes a significant investment in Zimbabwe and avoid what happened during his previous visit in 2015, when he came but did not return,” Tungwarara said.
Mahachi said Dangote will make his second visit to Harare after a decade when he expressed interest to invest in Harare and met Mugabe at State House.
“I am pleased to confirm that Mr Dangote will be returning to Zimbabwe in the near future to explore new investment opportunities. While the exact date is yet to be finalized, a formal mandate has already been signed,” Mahachi said.
“This time, I have partnered with Bard Santner Incorporated, a distinguished financial institution, to ensure a seamless and well-coordinated process.
“Furthermore, we are working on this initiative directly with His Excellency President Mnangagwa through his investment advisor, Dr Paul Tungwarara.”
Sikhosana confirmed that he is facilitating the business deal through his company Bard Santner.
”We are pleased to confirm that Mr. Aliko Dangote will be visiting Zimbabwe to pursue a big investment project on mining and power sectors. Our role is to ensure that the project is successfully consummated and to bring investment to the country. We are facilitators and financial advisors on this deal.
Mr. Dangote has long championed the vision of Africans investing in Africa, a philosophy that strongly aligns with our own ethos as a financial institution,” Sikhosana said.
Dangote, a multi-billionaire has interests in cement, sugar, salt, fertiliser and power generation.