Sobona

Mtisi,

(PhD,

MBA)

Sobona leads the drive to bring foreign direct investments into Zimbabwe leveraging

his relationship with a network of US and UK private equity investors, venture capital,

institutional investors and High Net Worth Individuals.

As the Chief Investment & Projects Officer, Dr Mtisi articulates Zimbabwe’s Open for

Business Policy, and wider policy agenda to investors, providing trusted and credible

insights into the Zimbabwe investment climate. He works in partnership with

colleagues in Government and Government Agencies in promoting Zimbabwe as the

No.1 investment destination in Southern Africa.

Prior to joining OPEAAL, Sobona started his career in academia and research, where

he excelled as a multi-disciplinary researcher able to use research to inform policy and

practice. During that period, Sobona worked for various international NGOs, lectured at

the University of Zimbabwe, and supervised PhD students at the National University

and Technology. He went on to work for 5 years at the Overseas Development Institute

- UK’s leading think-tank on global development – providing research, technical, and

advisory services to NGOs, governments, and multilateral development agencies.

During his academic and research career, Sobona authored over 30 publications

including journal articles, working papers, technical reports and book chapters on

pertinent global development policy issues, including market-based approaches to

development.

Mentored by a Wall Street veteran, Sobona then spent 3 years working on commodities

transactions in SADC in an investment, advisory, research and business development

capacity. His research helped to identify new investment opportunities, advance

strategic initiatives and business development, and support investors. Recently, Sobona

worked as the Senior Strategy & Business Development Manager for a fintech start-up,

and commodity trading firm, before co-founding an investment advisory firm and an

agribusiness company. In addition, Sobona is an avid retail trader, profitably trading UK

and US securities on his individual account.

Sobona holds a PhD in International Development & Policy Management from the

University of Manchester and an MBA from University of Nottingham Business School –

both Russell Group Universities. Prior to that, Sobona obtained an Msc in Population

Studies, and a Bsc. (Hons) in Sociology, both from the University of Zimbabwe.