User:Kuda Mutenda/sandbox

Kuda Mutenda

Kuda Mutenda (born 26 February 1985) is a Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder and Managing Director of Mwana Group.

Early Life and education

Born and raised in Zimbabwe and lived in Japan for ten years (2005 to 2015), He attended Yamuranai Primary School in Mufakose and completed his higher education at Peterhouse Boys in Marondera and Prince Edward School in Harare. He is fluent in Japanese Language after attending an intensive 18 months Japanese Language Course at the Tokyo Japanese Language Centre in Tokyo. He is also a graduate of the European School of Business, Management and Technology in Switzerland. He received a certificate in Leadership at Georgetown University's satellite Business School in South Africa. In March 2011, he received a Bachelor Degree in Bio-Business Studies at Tokyo University of Agriculture in Japan. Later on, he completed a Master certificate in International Peace and Security at United Nations University in Japan. Furthermore, he received a Master in Global Studies Thesis on International Energy Policy (Southern Africa) at Sophia University, Tokyo in Japan.

Business Career

Mwana Group Logo

In April 2012,Kuda Mutenda started as a Business Development Associate at Sugino Machine Private Limited in Tokyo, Japan. He was a marketing and sales Planning associate for Africa and South East Asia. He successfully planned and rolled off the setting up of a wholly owned new subsidiary in Jakarta, covering all of East Asia. He was instrumental in developing a new sales network in Africa through appointing, training, financing and empowering exclusive distributors in 8 African countries.

In April 2012,Kuda Mutenda started as a Business Development Associate at Sugino Machine Private Limited in Tokyo, Japan. He was a marketing and sales Planning associate for Africa and South East Asia. He successfully planned and rolled off the setting up of a wholly owned new subsidiary in Jakarta, covering all of East Asia. He was instrumental in developing a new sales network in Africa through appointing, training, financing and empowering exclusive distributors in 8 African countries.

Kuda Mutenda worked for Daimler AG as Regional Sales Manager, Customer Services and Daimler Commercial Vehicles Africa from April 2013 to December 2019.

In January 2016, He was the Vice Chairman for the South African Chamber of Commerce which was the only African Chamber of Commerce in Japan. The main objectives of the chamber was to bridge resources and opportunities between South Africa Japan. As a chamber, they managed to invite then Deputy President of South Africa, Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa to Japan along with a delegation of over 40 people including 3 Cabinet ministers. In his visit they managed to sign off 13 MOUs with key Japanese Global players.

In January 2019, he started a greenfield operation with zero sales, no investors and no employees called Mwana Group Private Limited. He also built a new filter production plant with modern cutting edge technology in April 2022. Under his Leadership the company sales grew from zero in 2019 to current levels of over $1m in 2023. The company currently has 7 branches and with pipelines plans to include operations in Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa within 2024.

Mwana Group is an Automotive Solutions Company whose main activities include Genuine Spare Parts, Service Workshops for cars, trucks and Buses and manufacture of automotive parts. Through this bottom up approach, the company envisions to make a vehicle in Zimbabwe by 2040 with 75% plus of the parts being designed, developed and manufactured in house by Mwana Group Private Limited.

Philanthropy

Mwana Group International Schools Rugby Festival

Through his company Mwana Group Private Limited, the entrepreneur has been supportive of the sports industry which is carried through Mwana Champions Trust. [Pictured Left Above]

Mwana Group Private Limited announced the launch of a rebranded international schools rugby festival that will run from 2024 until 2029. Mwana Group International Schools Rugby festival aims to grow the sport in Zimbabwe and showcase its talent to the world. It will feature a wide array of teams from top rugby schools in Zimbabwe, international touring teams developmental sides and female participants. They will compete in two age categories, under 16 and under 18, following the Zimbabwe Schools Rugby regulations.

The inaugural tournament of the Mwana Group International Schools Rugby Festival will be between 29 April and 4 May 2024.

Awards and recognition

• Company of the Year 2022 (ZIBA)
• Director of the Year 2023 (MEGAFEST)
• Most innovative SME for the year 2022 (Government of Zimbabwe)
• Businessman of the Year 2022(ZIBA)
• Business Leader of the Year ( Zim CEO's)