ZIMBABWEAN businesswoman and philanthropist, Smelly Dube was on Thursday night honoured with an African Achievers Award at the Queen's Gate in London alongside 15 influential women and men from Africa.

The awards are in recognition of outstanding work by men and women in the field of business, leadership, politics and philanthropy in Africa and Africans in the Diaspora. 

Dube's award was presented with the Global Corporate Leadership award in recognition of her philanthropy and real estate business.

The award was presented by former President of  Mauritius, Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim.

“It's really a privilege to be part of this whole grand ceremony, witnessing the procession leading to the Queen's burial and having the chance to lay a wreath in memory of the Queen. I dedicate the award to my employees and everyone that has supported us in this journey,” she told NewsDay from London.

“Meeting the Deputy Speaker of Hackney, Anya Sizer and putting my signature in the official condolence book for the Queen was really an experience.”