Steve Harvey’s local investment ambitions resurrected
Afreximbank ready to bankroll his creative project
America comedian and filmmaker, Steve Harvey’s wish of setting up business in Botswana, as well as creating opportunities for training and employment - a move that government was heavily criticised for- has been set alive again.
Harvey has gone on record to express interest to promote the creative industry in the country through his company Steve Harvey Global. But, it appeared the idea would not pass as there was pressure for him not to be given any funding or tender by government. This time, the comedian will be able to set up his envisaged multimillion Pula studios with the assistance of Afreximbank under their arts and culture account. Giving a keynote address during the official opening of the ongoing GlobalExpo Botswana 2022, President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi called to the podium, once again the President of and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Okechukwu Oramah to confirm what they had discussed in their private meeting in relation to the creative arts in the country.
Oramah confirmed that they have two projects on the continent that they are sponsoring and one of them belongs to Steve Harvey. “He wants to set up a centre or a project here, he wants to produce movies and shows and broadcast them from here. This is one of the projects we are financing under our creative arts account. “It was an opportunity that
Botswana presents to make sure that as even the production costs here will be far less than what they are in the US while the quality is the same or even better. We are also very excited to be working with him to realise that vision to turn Botswana into a top cultural centre.”
Harvey originally visited Botswana at the invitation of President Masisi whom he had originally met in the US where he expressed interest to promote the creative industry in the country through his company Steve Harvey Global. He would later arrive in the country in August 2019 following an invitation extended by Masisi as part of his initiatives to attract world- renowned international investors to explore opportunities for the youth to participate in business. Masisi then also invited the youth to a town hall networking meeting featuring Harvey whose local nickname is Mothusi. The invitation followed Harvey’s visit to the country during the Diamond Conference Women Summit during which Harvey – who has some businesses in South Africa - appreciated Botswana and made many acquaintances.
He would later be awarded a direct tender by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board who announced that its board had approved the direct appointment of Steve Harvey Global for the Provision of Radio and Television Production Services for a period of three years by the DBS. The direct award of the tender would later be vehemently opposed by Business Botswana – Creative Arts and the Media Sector, as well as opposition and some members of the public.