Dr S. Munyeza's Profile

Dr Munyeza is an accomplished business leader and currently holds the reins at the fastest growing hospitality group in sub-Saharan Africa, African Sun Limited. He holds a balanced portfolio of experience which has more than adequately prepared him for this role. He was conferred an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration and Development by Solusi University in March 2010 in recognition of his contribution to business development in the tourism sector. He is the Zimbabwe 2008 Institute of Directors Award winner, was twice recipient of the Institute of Directors Runner up Award, crowned CEO of the Year 2008 by the Institute of People Management Zimbabwe and received the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Personality of the Year Award for four years running.

Driven by passion and strong conviction in all that he does, Dr Munyeza led a consortium of business persons into buying a stake in the largest hotel management company in Zimbabwe. His vision for growth in the tourism sector in Africa at large has seen him standing at the helm of a pan-African hotel group with more than 1,000 rooms in the region and a target to increase capacity to 5,500 by 2012.

Dr Munyeza’s experience has more than adequately prepared him for this role. He holds a balanced portfolio of experience which is a pre-requisite to fulfilling the vision of growing tourism in Africa to high enough levels that will enable the continent to become a significant player on a global scale. A trained accountant by profession, with one of the top accounting firms in the world, Ernst & Young, Dr Munyeza has the necessary business acumen and attention to detail that is an integral part of driving such a dynamic business. Having gleaned business and financial experience, his love for marketing saw him make a career change to advertising. Not one to do things in half measures, Dr Munyeza attained an IMM Diploma in marketing, and ended up as Executive Director in an advertising Agency.

The journey in marketing was not to end here. His belief in what Africa has to offer in the hospitality industry saw him make his final career move to the hospitality industry, where he has found his home. It is his belief in tourism that has seen him actively involved in all spheres of influence that encompass tourism and hospitality from a policy making level to operations within the industry. A Diploma in Hotel Strategic Management from Cornell University, New York has sharpened his natural inclination in driving business at African Sun Limited toward the vision of attaining US$1 billion market capitalisation by 2012 through the regional expansion programme.

Dr Munyeza’s involvement in tourism is not only limited to African Sun Limited. He played an instrumental part in bringing about a turnaround of tourism in Zimbabwe through various initiatives where he has been the president for Zimbabwe Council for Tourism for three years in succession. In addition, he sees the tourism potential in Africa and works closely with governments in Africa to improve tourism and hotel development in African countries.

In keeping with his diverse nature, his leadership is not limited to the business sector. His passion for community transformation has resulted in the initiation of sustainable youth programmes in disadvantaged communities in Zimbabwe targeted at young people through a community church where he plays a leading role. Dr Munyeza sits on several board committees including Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, where he is Chairman. He is married to Wilma and they have a daughter Nomsa.