Preps for CEO Africa Roundtable at advanced stage

STAFF WRITER

Preparations are at an advanced stage for the CEO Africa Annual Roundtable, scheduled for October 14 to 18, 2025, in the resort city of Victoria Falls.

Now in its 11th edition, the influential gathering is set to draw the continent’s most prominent decision-makers from government, business, and civil society under the theme: “Future Ready Africa: connecting ideas, creating value”.

This year’s Roundtable will serve as a strategic platform for high-level engagement across finance, energy, infrastructure, leadership, and technology, with agriculture taking centre stage as Africa grapples with the far-reaching impacts of climate change.

An impressive line-up of speakers is expected, including Mangaliso Ndhlovu, Minister of Industry and Commerce; Dr. Anxious Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development; Felix Mhona, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development; July Moyo, Minister of Energy and Power Development; Dr. John Mangudya, CEO of the Mutapa Investment Fund; Dr. Douglas Mboweni, CEO of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe; and Never Ncube, CEO of Dandemutande.

At the heart of the five-day conference is a transformative dialogue on agricultural resilience, a timely response to growing climate pressures threatening food security across the continent. Sessions will focus on delivering bold, actionable solutions to future-proof Africa’s food systems.

“Africa sits at the epicentre of climate vulnerability, but also at the heart of opportunity,” said Kipson Gundani, Chief Executive Officer of CEO Africa Roundtable. “With this panel, we want to catalyse meaningful dialogue and drive collaborative action that transforms our agricultural systems for a more resilient and prosperous future. We want to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation—and develop practical strategies that equip our farmers with the tools, data, and capital they need to adapt and thrive.”

The agriculture session, to be headlined by Minister Dr. Masuka, is expected to be one of the conference’s most consequential discussions. Delegates will examine how to strengthen food systems, scale climate-smart agriculture, and advance inclusive rural development.

Organisers say the agricultural resilience track will cover a broad array of innovations and technologies reshaping farming across Africa. Key themes include:

• Adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices such as drought-resistant seed varieties, precision irrigation systems, and integrated soil fertility management
• Integration of digital agriculture platforms, remote sensing, and AI-powered climate forecasting to support informed, data-driven decisions at farm level
• Expanding access to innovative financing mechanisms, including climate insurance, blended finance, and customised credit models tailored for smallholder farmers
• Building robust public-private partnerships to foster data-driven, technology-enabled agribusiness ecosystems
• Promoting regenerative agricultural practices that boost soil health, preserve biodiversity, and ensure long-term sustainability

While agriculture is a major thematic focus, the CEO Africa Roundtable will also provide a stage for strategic dialogues across other high-impact sectors. Discussions on energy security, digital transformation, infrastructure development, industrialisation, and leadership will run in parallel sessions.

Panels led by key policymakers such as Dr. Mangudya and Minister Moyo, along with private sector leaders including Dr. Mboweni and Ncube, will interrogate Africa’s evolving investment climate and explore cross-sectoral pathways to inclusive and sustainable growth.