Seabata Mahao
Lesotho’s businessman and chairman of the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC) Sam Matekane has been endowed with a nomination for the prestigious Forbes Africa’s leading entrepreneur of the year 2021 award.
The top Lesotho businessman will be part those to officially receive their honours during a Forbes Best of Africa Awards ceremony to be staged today (August 6 2021) virtually. Foreign Investment Network (FIN) in partnership with Forbes Best of Africa has earmarked leading personalities in business, politics, innovation and celebration who will be celebrated.
According to analysts the event is going to be one of the biggest and prestigious in the year 2021. There is going to be a celebration of important personalities who have and continue to have significant influence on the business, political, leadership and economic landscape of Africa.
Speaking to Newsday in an interview following the honour, Matekane remarked the nomination as his first continental showpiece since his business operation.
“It is my first time to be nominated among the Best of Africa award. I am very proud and grateful for the opportunity as well as the recognition of the hard work we are doing in Africa and globally. The economy of Lesotho is boosted by the private sector as the core of the employment and revenue generation with the government as the policy maker,” Matekane said.
He explained that MGC is in construction, property and mining in Lesotho and South Africa, as well as working across the whole African continent in various industries.
“Entrepreneurship is about focusing more on the plans and investing on them to work-out. Also the entrepreneurs should not lose hope as it is the basis of entrepreneurship,” Matekane said.
Matekane is an entrepreneur and leading business magnet in Lesotho. He established Matekane Group of Companies in 1986 as Matekane Transport and Plant Hire and evolved into a multi sector corporation embodying aviation, property development, mining, logistics supply chain, hospitality and farming.
Like most successful businessmen, Matekane invested sweat and tears to create a legacy that will improve and flourish Lesotho through employment, infrastructure, CSI/CSR programs and economic growth. His resilience, tenacity and pride for his nation has made him the successful leader he is today across various industries in Lesotho.
Moreover, he is the founder of the Maluti Sky airline which offers scheduled and charter flights. The airline was founded in 2009 as MGC Airlines as the first private airline in Lesotho. MGC is internationally recognised as experts in architecture, engineering, project management, investment and utilises state-of-the-art technologies that have allowed them to emerge as visionaries of the people of the new Africa.
Matekane will receive the award alongside other African business moguls the likes of, Kwame Bediako, Mahmood Ahmadu, Leo Stan Ekeh, where awardees include Wendy Ackerman, Dr. Rajan Mahtani, Ken Sharpe, Claver Gatete and Reverend Paul Adefarasin.
