(Re)building Nations
As 2020 rapidly disappears before us, each passing month confirms that the social and economic fallout from COVID-19 will be felt for far longer than we might have anticipated.
Entire economies will need jumpstarting or rebuilding altogether, while societies will need to be given the confidence to interact with each other once more. As Aristotle famously cited, we are by nature a social animal, and a real danger emerging from this crisis is that such sociability could be replaced by fear.
However, we cannot ignore efforts made by people, governments and businesses to maintain a degree of ‘normality’ and keep the wheels moving, and once more we shine a light on organisations facing a variety of different challenges caused by the pandemic.
Our cover story comes from Mozambique, where almost all of its 20th and 21st century infrastructure carries the cement stamp of just one organisation.
For almost 100 years, state-run and now privately owned Cimentos de Moçambique has been producing this vital building material all over the country, a defiant constant during a tumultuous recent past which has effectively helped to build a nation from the ground up.
“There are some [COVID-19] cases here, but we are fortunate to not have suffered with a huge outbreak like countries in Europe or the USA, although every fatality caused by COVID-19 is a tragedy that we cannot ignore,” Chairman and CEO Edney Vieira tells us.
“The virus has also had its impact on us financially – we have felt it in terms of sales, but I am optimistic about getting through this and looking ahead to a more prosperous time.”
We also explore the cement industry in Congo through an interview with regional leader Dangote, while at the end of this edition you will find a fascinating digest from the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, whose testing capabilities will prove vital in the country’s fight against coronavirus.
Other industries examined this issue include mining, water, agriculture and tourism, as well as an exclusive interview with brothers and Co-Founders of To.org, Arieh and Nachson Mimran, who explain how different forms of investment can be used as a catalyst for change.
Enjoy the read!