Innovation Summit - Meridian International Center

Participant Biographies
Mr. Ramahooana Peter Matlosa – Lesotho
Founder and National Coordinator, Crossroads Lesotho
Mr. Matlosa founded Crossroads Lesotho, a non-governmental organization that provides
psychosocial support, sports and recreational programs, food packages, and income generating
activities to the Lesotho community. Crossroads Lesotho aims to cultivate a generation of youth
who are creative and proactive, innovative leaders, and passionate about community development.
As administrator of the organization, Mr. Matlosa conducts trainings and youth workshops that
aim to equip young leaders with skills to advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention in their communities.
Mr. Matlosa’s overall project objective is to build a training, sports and recreation center for
underprivileged children. He has also lobbied with international organizations to pay more attention
to the HIV/AIDS crisis affecting young people in his country. Mr. Matlosa is active in local politics,
serving as chairman of the youth league of a local political party.
Mr. Simbarashe Mhungu – Zimbabwe
Founder and Managing Director, Harvest Fresh
Mr. Mhungu is the founder and managing director of Harvest Fresh, a progressive fresh produce
processing and marketing company founded in 1993 as BonneZim PVT Ltd. Through his whollyowned
subsidiary Harvest Fresh, Mr. Mhungu bought BonneZim PVT Ltd. out of bankruptcy in
October 2011 with the aim of restructuring its business model to fit the new global agro-processing
paradigm. Mr. Mhungu hopes to learn and adopt food processing technology from U.S.-based
companies to ensure that Harvest Fresh remains on the cusp of new food growing and processing
technologies. Mr. Mhungu is also an African Leadership Academy mentor and co-founder of the
program Africa Readers to Leaders.
Ms. Jacqueline David Mkindi – Tanzania
Executive Director, Tanzania Horticulture Association
As Executive Director of Tanzania Horticulture Association, Ms. Mkindi serves as a key official on
the TAHA Board of Directors, manages day-to-day operations, and establishes key alliances with
strategic government, development and private sector partners. Tanzania Horticulture Association
(TAHA) is an organization composed of members from the private sector including farmers, service
providers and exporters, created to develop and promote the horticulture industry in Tanzania.
Through her efforts, Ms. Mkindi has helped transform the horticulture industry in Tanzania from
a mere non-traditional sub-sector to the fastest growing sub-sector in the Tanzanian economy,
generating over $354 million today, compared with $1.4 million in 2003. Ms. Mkindi wants to
start a Woman in Agribusiness Mentorship and Business Advisory Program, which would provide
mentorship and advisory services to women group leaders in agribusiness, especially horticulture.
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