Panel Discussion: Effects of COVID-19 on Small Businesses in Zambia -

Small business owners in Zambia are afraid that their businesses will not survive the effects of the current crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. This is according to a survey BongoHive carried out in March on the Effects of COVID-19 on Small Businesses.

In this discussion, we will share a summary report on the results of the survey. Our esteemed panel of entrepreneurs will contribute their thoughts on these results, and respond with steps they are taking in their own businesses during this crisis.

Our panel of entrepreneurs includes Monica Musonda (Java Foods), Sipho Phiri (Western Power & Memorial Park) and Mark Mandoka (Venivi). The discussion will be hosted by Simunza Muyangana (BongoHive).

Panelist Profile:
Sipho Phiri:
Sipho Phiri is an established entrepreneur with a wide range of business interests including property development, IT and power generation. He is a banker by profession and has extensive Corporate Finance, Transaction Advisory and Corporate Turnaround experience. Having left the consulting and finance world in 2006 to pursue his own business interests Sipho has developed both a 50MW Hydroelectricity and a 100MW Grid Solar pv generation projects. Sipho also co-founded Leopards Hill Memorial Park.

Monica Musonda:
Corporate lawyer, corporate governance expert turned entrepreneur, Monica Musonda is CEO & Founder of Java Foods, a Zambian based food processing company. Java Foods’ first product was “eeZee Instant Noodles”, which has become Zambia’s leading instant noodle brand. Monica currently serves as non-executive director on several boards including Airtel Networks Zambia Plc & Zambia Breweries (where she is chair), Arcelor Mittal South Africa Plc and Dangote Industries Zambia Limited. Forbes Magazine and Africa Investor named her as one of the leading Young Power Women in Business in Africa in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Mark Mondoka:
Mark Mandoka is curious about the impact that human behavior, problem-solving, and technology have on transforming organizations, communities, and countries. He has 10+ years of work experience in the consumer/enterprise technology space as a business strategic advisor, product, and project manager across east and southern Africa. Mark is also an entrepreneur.