Precylar Mavengere-Mujana
On Thursday the 11th of July, I attended a CBZ Diaspora Business Networking Forum hosted by the Financial Markets Indaba in partnership with CBZ Holdings in London.
We were treated to brief but packed presentations from CBZ Bank Mortgages Divisional Director, Chenai Chiketsani on how to secure a mortgage with the bank. Seeff Properties Managing Director Patience Munetsi-Patongamoyo presented on Zimbabwe’s interesting property landscape.
Datvest Asset Management Managing Director. Tendai Muzadzi addressed us on Innovative Portfolio Management, while CBZ Holdings Limited Group CEO, Lawrence Nyazema spoke on Insights into Economic and Market Trends in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the UK, Rtd Colonel Christian Katsande, gave the keynote address. He didn’t stay long. I definitely would have loved to pick his sharp mind on a thing or two around the Zim-UK relations.
It was an excellent opportunity to learn of the exciting opportunities available to invest back home. Given my rich CBZ background, I’m privileged to be aware of most of their financial offerings. Therefore for me, the evening was a chance to catch up on their new products like the Ziki Cash digital platform. Emmanuel Tapera, their Head of Electronic Banking did a decent job highlighting the platform’s various functions that ease transacting at a distance.
Of particular interest to me was to network with the diverse professionals who, like myself, were either attracted to or were a part of this high-profile business networking forum. I like working the room and I make it a point to speak to not only people I know, but someone new or a person of interest.
It was good catching up with old colleagues, the likes of Temba Mashunye; my good friend, Steven Matongo who is doing very well at CBZ Properties; and Patrick Muzondo, a part of the team behind the Indaba.
To name just a few, I got a chance to speak to the Nyaradzo Group CEO, Philip Mataranyika; business tycoon Nigel MK Chanakira; and British African Business Alliance (BABA) Chairman, David Smith, whose presentation on networking was definitely the icing on the cake for me. I’m always underscoring the importance of networking. It was a refreshing breather following an evening of figures and graphs!
I obviously didn’t get a chance to speak to everyone. However, I look forward to fruitful engagements in the not-too-distant future from everyone else I managed to put a word in with.
I believe there’s always scope to create mutually beneficial relationships by utilising people within your network, especially the ones who already have access to markets you wish to explore. This I learnt quickly from professionals constantly reaching out to me once they come across my profile here on LinkedIn.
- Precylar Mavengere-Mujana is a UK-based finance, investment and development enthusiast. She can be contacted on +447510323129 or pmavengere@gmail.com
