BardSantner reveals 18 – month campaign to secure Dangote’s return
STAFF WRITER
BardSantner CEO, Senziwani Sikhosana, has detailed the eighteen-month strategy that secured the second visit to Zimbabwe by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, confirming that the billionaire is prioritising investments in cement and coal power generation.
Mr Sikhosana stated that the decision to pursue Mr Dangote came after recognising that Zimbabwe’s investment environment has improved since the entrepreneur’s initial visit in 2015.
“We have been working on trying to bring him for the last one and a half years,” Mr Sikhosana said in an interview on Capitalk FM’s Business Focus programme.
“We have been to some of his plants in Tanzania and in Zambia. At some time in September, he then said, ‘Look, you guys have been persistent, come and do the pitch.”
The BardSantner team subsequently travelled to Lagos, Nigeria, to present the investment case.
Mr Sikhosana stressed the wider national benefit of securing the investment..
“If he comes in, he will attract other investors to come in. So, as a business (BardSantner), I think that is one of the specialities that we are working on: to be an institution that attracts Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Zimbabwe.”
When pressed on the sectors Mr Dangote is eyeing, the CEO confirmed three key areas: cement, power and fertiliser.
Mr Sikhosana acknowledged that Mr Dangote has experience in basic products like sugar and cement, but confirmed the immediate focus is on cement and power.
“He has said for now, let me start with cement and then power. Power is a big issue for Southern Africa,” he confirmed.
While media reports have touted a figure of US$1 billion for the investment, Mr Sikhosana suggested the final amount would scale to that level over time.
“Look, it will scale to that figure. I mean, the obvious is that it will scale to those other numbers that have been touted around. Whatever he does, he wants to scale. He is investing, and then he can scale the investment depending on how, obviously, we look after it.”
Mr Sikhosana stressed that securing the investment is a collective responsibility, calling for support from all sectors. “It is not even a personal issue. This is a national issue. We have got all hands on deck on this one. We hope compatriots will help us to make sure at least he stays. So, I am hoping we can all come to put our hands together on this one.”
The CEO relayed Mr Dangote’s key message for the local partners and authorities: “Look, let us get it right this time. Let us get it right.”
“You rarely get a second chance. We have got a second chance,” Mr Sikhosana said.