Zambian businesswoman Monica Musonda has been awarded the MEDays 2016 Forum “Champion of the South” award by the Amadeus Institute, an independent Moroccan think-tank, at a ceremony in Tangiers, Morocco. The recognition was for her creation of her innovative company, Java Foods, which is a model for a new generation of business leaders.
Speaking about her award, Monica said she was “very honored and proud” to receive this distinguished award, which acknowledges the rich contribution of leading African women to promoting several vital industry sectors on the continent, as well as helping to build the stability and prosperity of African people. She added that this prestigious prize is a tribute to all African businesswomen and an incentive to more success, creativity and achievements in favour of Africa’s development. Through her company Java Foods, Ms Musonda succeeded in revolutionizing the eating habits of her community and offering high-nutrition foods at affordable prices, all exclusively made from local products. Amadeus Institute is an independent Moroccan think tank, created in 2008. Its headquarters is in Rabat. Given each year during opening ceremonies and official closure of MEDays, the MEDays prizes are offered to personalities, institutions, organizations or businesses that significantly contributed in the development of the countries of the South or that has a real added value in enhancing North-South or South-South relations.
About Monica Musonda
Monica Musonda is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods, a food processing company based in Zambia. Monica's vision is to revolutionize the eating habits of the youth market by offering them affordable and nutritious food options made from local products. Monica is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Zambian advocate with over 15 years of experience in legal practice and corporate management, including being corporate counsel at the International Finance Corporation and for Aliko Dangote of Dangote Industries Limited.
Monica currently serves as non-executive director on the Boards of Zambia Sugar Plc, African Life Assurance (subsidiary of Sanlam), Dangote Industries Zambia Limited and sits on the Microsoft4Afrika Advisory Council. She is the immediate past chairperson of Kwacha Pension Trust Fund, Zambia’s largest single employer pension fund. She has also sat on the board of Bank of Zambia (2011-2014). She is a 2013 Young Global Leader (World Economic Forum) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow. Forbes Magazine and Africa Investor named her as one of the leading Young Power Women in Business in Africa in 2013 and 2014 respectively.