The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN businessman Mr Kenneth Sharpe was on Friday awarded the Forbes Best of Africa Award’s Innovative CEO of the Year Award.
The Forbes Best of Africa Awards are traditionally held annually in connection with the Best of Africa event held in New York City during the United Nations General Award (UNGA) meetings to highlight business personalities with a record of creating and building global businesses that have made far-reaching and positive contributions to the development of Africa.
The event was, however, held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking after receiving the award, the West Properties chairperson said his company is committed to rebuilding Zimbabwe in line with Vision 2030.
“Zimbabwe was once regarded as a breadbasket of Africa and I believe it will regain that status as a premier economic force, recognised within the continent; the story of a future where innovation, development and investment will improve the lives of our people.
“Africa is a continent of enormous but untapped opportunity. Mostly the news from Africa is negative; about corruption, inept leadership and mediocrity — but that is not the whole story,” he said.
Great innovations, he added, are being undertaken all over Africa, with major infrastructure projects taking shape.
“Malls, manufacturing plants and homes are being born, breathing life into a continent that we choose to believe and whose best years are still ahead. Africa has the youngest population in the world today and they are the most educated ever. They are our greatest asset ever and will drive phenomenal growth in the coming decades.”
Over the years, Mr Sharpe has been involved in over 100 businesses.
He began venturing into business by investing in food distribution and manufacturing local beverages in the 1990s.
He now focuses on real estate and property development, including several projects and companies outside the country in services, property, tech and alternative power generation.
