The Enterprise, Leaders and Innovators Society for Africa (ELISA) will convene its 2026 summit in Hwange in March under the theme Business Beyond Borders, organisers have said.
The summit will bring together Pan-African entrepreneurs, operators and ecosystem leaders focused on building and scaling businesses across African markets. It aims to connect founders with investors and institutional partners to unlock execution, market access and enterprise capability.
Set against the wilderness backdrop of Gwango Heritage Resort, bordering Hwange National Park, the summit is deliberately designed to move Africa’s integration agenda from aspiration to execution.
Denzel Mhepo, communications coordinator for ELISA, confirmed the forthcoming event.
“While the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides a shared framework, ELISA serves as a practical convening platform where commercial relationships are formed and cross-border operating pathways clarified,” he said in a statement.
“The 2026 summit moves beyond policy rhetoric to address the realities of scaling across African markets — from complex regulatory environments and volatile global supply chains to locally responsive pricing and operating models across more than 54 diverse economies.”
Elisabeth Valerio, co-founder of the ELISA Business Network, also weighed in.
“Africa should be further ahead. We all know it. We talk about it. Yet the question remains: why hasn’t the continent advanced at the pace its potential demands?” she said.
- Challenges foreign airlines face to access blocked funds in Africa
- Zim’s AfCFTA opportunity
- The economic integration theme
- Feature: Zim needs to shift its trade matrix
Keep Reading
“Africa does not lack brilliance or ambition. What we often lack are the forums that bring our ideas together — across industries, borders and generations,” Valerio added.
Reflecting this commitment to action, the summit will feature the high-stakes Beyond Borders Live Pitch, where selected entrepreneurs will present cross-border ventures to seasoned investors for direct feedback and potential catalytic capital.
