Leadership

Simon is a seasoned accountant with extensive executive experience gained from managerial positions held in various companies in the SADC region. He carries a huge exposure in building telecommunication infrastructures in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa.

Simon holds a BCom Accounting honours degree from National University of Science and Technology (Zimbabwe), Successful Management Certificate from SMI (USA) and Certificate in Financial Management from Edufin Training & Consultancy (Zimbabwe). He is a fellow member of Institute of Directors Southern Africa, Institute of Directors Zimbabwe, and CEO Africa Round Table.

Kobus is highly experienced in evaluating the technical, marketing, and financial feasibility of new products and processes and new business ventures. His experience covers a wide range of projects and included feasibility assessments, identification of partners and packaging of investment projects for investors, project developers, entrepreneurs, government departments and financiers.

He has wide experience in sector industry and value chain studies various industry sectors such as the food, beverage, and agriculture sectors, power generation and distribution, renewable energy industry, plastic, and steel industries, and vehicle (automotive) industries in South Africa. He has identified business opportunities in the energy and power sector in South Africa for multinational investors and companies, such as Toshiba and Absa Capital and has also identified renewable energy projects in South Africa and cogeneration projects involving industry, mining, and forestry. He has participated in the feasibility study of three agriculture and agri-processing special economic zones in different provinces in South Africa.

He has also consulted for local and international investors on market and techno-economic assessments of businesses in the telecommunications, electronics, plastic, petrochemical, rubber-recycling, agrochemical, explosives, construction, steel and foundry, agriculture, food processing, water, waste and effluent treatment (incl. acid mine water), and mining (special minerals) industries in South Africa. He is also competent in financial modelling and forecasting and has particular expertise in the financial structuring of big project finance.

With over 20 years’ experience in the telecommunications sector, Nhena Nyagura has held several senior roles both locally and globally.

Prior to joining DFA, he was CEO of Dandemutande, Zimbabwe’s largest B2B Internet- and VSAT-services provider. He has also he held leadership roles at several key companies in the sector, including iWayAfrica, Africa Online, and Africom in Zimbabwe and Level 3 Communications and RCN in the United States. He was a founding member and Chief Technical Officer of Academic One, an Internet-based live-tutoring service based in Potomac Falls, Virginia.

Nhena holds an MBA from The University of Gloucestershire and a BSc Information Systems from Strayer University in Washington DC. He is an advisor to the Impact Hub, Harare, and sits on the boards of BancABC and Standard Telephones and Cables.