Java Food Chief Executive Officer Monica Musonda has received the 2017 African Agribusiness Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Ms. Musonda and Java Foods’ contribution to Africa’s agribusiness sector and food security was officially recognized during the Closing Banquet of the 2017 Making Markets Matter Executive Training Program for the African Agribusiness Sector in Somerset West, South Africa, on 11 May 2017.
The African Rural Agribusiness Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes entrepreneurs who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in agricultural input and value-added industries serving food and fiber production in Africa.
Established through the generous gift of Dr. Akin Adesina, an agricultural development professional who is now President of the African Development Bank with a passion and commitment to improve rural livelihoods in Africa, the award recognizes the invaluable role played by small and medium-size private enterprises in the continent’s long-term, sustainable development.
The award is bestowed by Market Matters Inc. (MM Inc.), a nonprofit organization providing business development services in emerging markets, especially in Africa.
The award is conferred every year during the Making Markets Matter workshop series to an agribusiness entrepreneur whose efforts have made an outstanding positive impact on African rural communities.
The African Rural Agribusiness Entrepreneur of The Year Award is a mark of distinction that recognizes the recipient’s achievements in improving the livelihoods of Africa’s rural communities through entrepreneurship.
Corporate lawyer turned entrepreneur, Ms. Musonda is CEO & Founder of Java Foods, a Zambia-based food processing company.
Java Foods’ vision is to become a leading food manufacturer, committed to providing high quality and nutritious food from local products at affordable prices.
Java Foods’ first product was “eeZee Instant Noodles”, which has become Zambia’s leading instant noodle brand.
Java Foods recently launched a fortified instant cereal under the brand name “eeZee Supa Cereal” made from soya and maize flour and corn snacks called “Num Num’s”.
As the owner of Java Foods, Ms. Musonda is one of few Zambian women involved in the processing and distribution of nutritious food products, while also focusing on making supply chains function better.
Together with the social enterprise Lima Links she is building an agro-technology platform that brings prices, promotions, and trade to rural smallholder farmers.
Ms. Musonda began her legal career working for the Attorney General of Zambia, followed by private practice in London and Johannesburg.
She also worked at the International Finance Corporation (Washington DC) and the Dangote Group in Lagos, Nigeria.
Her experience working with one of Africa’s most successful entrepreneurs gave her the impetus to start her own business in 2012, when she moved back to Zambia and set up Java Foods.
Monica has served on numerous corporate boards, and in May 2016, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon appointed her to the Lead Group of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in recognition of her strong commitment to improving the conditions of the poor, the hungry, and the vulnerable.
She is a 2013 Young Global Leader (World Economic Forum) and an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Program Fellow.
In 2013 and 2014, respectively, Forbes Magazine and Africa Investor named her as one of the leading Young Power Women in Business in Africa.
When she is not manufacturing food, she speaks to Zambian youth on entrepreneurship and business development.
She holds a LL. B from the University of Zambia and an LL.M from the University of London.
I’d like to take you out to dinner sometime, Monica, what do you say?
Be careful mwana. She is taken.
So damn hard to find a good looking marriageable Zambian woman, so difficult. Not even these entrepreneurs exposed to us this week.
These Latinos are too romantic, spending money and time everyday.
I am sure our LT Mushota will do better than Musonda. I can’t just think of best product she can sell than herself.
@Kawimbe Nsokolo You have a very low self-esteem!! You don’t even know me.
Great achievement, Monica … keep it up!!! You make the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise proud.
You are the best,
boooo!!!!!
Well-done Monica.
I applaud her for her hard work and using her education to make a difference. Kudos to her and her firm in changing peoples lives in Zambia and neighboring nations. Continue thrilling Musonda.
Where is NEZ the insulting Tonga just bringing more hate to the goods ones. He can’t even comment. We’re all one Zambia
@CatPower you only comment when you see a skirt. Ulumoneka boyi.
If he was not made to hide in shame, NEZ would say “Oh no, another bemba monkey!”
Congratulations but please stop manufacturing noodles these things are not healthy at all. These things are coated with chemicals responsible for causing cancer!!
So what iwe chi terrible nyio, our women are busy with their tonga bulls making babies to look after our fields and cattle!
THIS IS RIGGING AT HIGHEST LEVEL HOW CAN A BEMBA BE A WINNER IN AGRICULTURE INSTEAD OF A TONGA? DO PIPO IN NORTHERN PROVINCE PRACTICE AGRICULTURE NOT JUST THEFT UHULE UNCHENDE AND POLITIKING?
And where is the schizophrenic self absorbed and delusional spinster otherwise known as Mushota ?? I hope she heeded to my advice and is undergoing psychotherapy
Elitism at work here!
Congrats to her; This brings pride to Zambia and not the Lungu dictatorship and oppression of HH.
Congratulations Monica! We are proud of you.
you are great..keep it up.
A breath of fresh air unlike one pompous laz president who thinks the world revolves around her. Here is a person who has reached higher heights and has attained the same if not better level of education then LK and does not hide behind a ‘famous’ or ‘infamous’ uncle even though we all know her father is a professor. Keep it up lass from London, Lagos, Abudja, Lusaka, Johannesburg need we say more and those who left will now be trying to return but stay focused….
Meh
@afro H; leave LK alone; She is one of the best LAZ president Zambia has ever had; don’t just be a blind PF cadre; Zambia is bigger than your PF which has taken Zambia backwards
Power woman… I’m inspired…. Wonderful work you are doing Ms Monica
Huge and curved. Why don’t you get a ride with me to Mazabuka and buy my soya?
@kk airport cabinet wouldnt touch her with a ten feet pole enjoy her ptesidency stop being a stubborn follower of upnd