9African countriesInyatsi Group

Michelo
Shakantu

Executive ChairmanEntrepreneur

Building African enterprises across construction, telecommunications, mining, manufacturing, media and financial services.

Read his story Get updates

9African countries

6,000+People employed by the group

80%+Of the workforce are emaSwati

~US$1bnAnnual turnover, as reported by Forbes Africa

The Inyatsi story

From a construction company to a diversified African group.

Inyatsi has grown into telecommunications, mining, manufacturing, insurance, financial services, media and healthcare by spotting gaps in the market and building businesses to fill them.

Who he is

An entrepreneur building across Africa.

RoleExecutive Chairman & shareholder

GroupInyatsi Group Holdings

BornZambia

BasedKingdom of Eswatini

Co-foundedEswatini Mobile

Michelo Shakantu is a Zambian-born entrepreneur and the shareholder and Executive Chairman of Inyatsi Group Holdings, a conglomerate operating in nine African countries with a workforce of more than 6,000.

Under his leadership, Inyatsi has grown from a construction firm into one of the Kingdom of Eswatini's leading private groups, with interests in telecommunications, mining, manufacturing, insurance, financial services, media and healthcare.

He co-founded Eswatini Mobile with his late friend and business partner Victor Gamedze, and has also served as Chief Executive Officer of Eswatini Meat Industries.

Connect on LinkedIn

Journey

Building, one industry at a time.

How a construction company became a diversified group.

Construction roots

Inyatsi begins as a construction and engineering company, the foundation the wider group is built on.

Telecommunications

Co-founds Eswatini Mobile with Victor Gamedze, now one of the Kingdom's fastest growing telecom operators.

Manufacturing

Inyatsi takes over Eswatini Meat Industries, a supplier to European and Taiwanese markets.

Mining

Maloma Colliery, one of Africa's significant anthracite coal mines, joins the group.

Media

The group brings together the Times of Eswatini, Eswatini Daily News, Eswatini Financial Times and Rubicon Media.

Today

A diversified group in nine African countries, employing more than 6,000 people.

Inyatsi Group Holdings

One group, many industries.

A portfolio built by identifying gaps in the market and building businesses to fill them.

Vision

Africa's leading integrated business partner.

Mission

To create sustainable value by building exceptional businesses that improve lives through innovation, operational excellence, disciplined capital allocation and responsible investment.

Construction

Inyatsi Construction

Where the group began: roads, bridges, dams and civil engineering.

10,000+ km of roads built across the region Visit inyatsiconstruction.africa

Construction

Construction Associates

Building and civil works for public and private clients.

30+ dams and water projects Visit constructionassociates.africa $Infracast logo$ Manufacturing

Infracast

Precast concrete products for infrastructure and construction.

Visit infracast.africa

Telecommunications

Eswatini Mobile

Mobile, data and digital services for the Kingdom.

700,000+ subscribers on a 5G network Visit eswatinimobile.co.sz

Financial services

E-Mali

Mobile money that lets emaSwati send, pay and save.

30,000+ monthly transactions Visit e-mali.co.sz

Insurance

Lidwala Insurance

Short-term and life cover for households and businesses.

50,000+ policyholders Visit lidwalainsurance.com

Healthcare

The Clinic Group

Private hospitals and clinics delivering quality care.

100,000+ patients a year Visit theclinicgroup.org

Mining

Maloma Colliery

Anthracite coal for regional and international markets.

1.2M+ tons of coal a year Visit malomacolliery.africa

Agro-processing

Eswatini Meat Industries

Beef processing for local, European and Taiwanese markets.

2,000+ farmers in the supply chain Visit eswatinimeatindustries.africa

Media

Times of Eswatini

The Kingdom's oldest newspaper and leading news brand.

Established 1892 Visit times.co.sz

Media

Rubicon Media Group

Business journalism, including the Eswatini Financial Times.

Visit eswatinifinancialtimes.africa

Property

Inyatsi Properties

Commercial and residential property development and management.

Visit inyatsigroup.africa

Hospitality

Nsulutane Hlane Hotel

A hotel at the gateway to Hlane Royal National Park.

Opened 2026 Visit hlanehotel.com

Property

Nkonyeni Estate

A golf and lifestyle estate in the Lowveld.

Core values

What the group stands for.

Five values Michelo has built into every Inyatsi business.

Accountability

We take ownership of our decisions, our actions and our results.

Agility

We value agility in our decision-making, planning and delivery.

Commitment

Our team members strive to achieve excellence in their work.

Teamwork

We work together as a team.

Embrace change

We thrive on innovation and encourage each other to share ideas and thoughts.

Impact

Business that builds people.

Jobs at scale

More than 6,000 people work across the group, over 80 per cent of them emaSwati.

Communities

Leaders around Maloma Colliery have publicly thanked the group for its continued support of the Mngometulu community.

Leadership development

His support enabled Dr Thokozani Nkambule to become the first Liswati alumnus of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program.

Women in leadership

He has publicly celebrated Eswatini Mobile's Chief Technology Officer, Jabulile Dlamini, as a trailblazer in engineering.

Newsroom

In the news.

The latest coverage of Michelo Shakantu and Inyatsi Group Holdings, updated automatically.

Swazi24Jun 2026

Inyatsi Foundation brings food relief to grandmother of nine in Matsanjeni

Matsanjeni – A 75-year-old grandmother who is raising nine grandchildren in a crumbling one-room house in Matsanjeni South…

Read article

Eswatini Daily NewsSep 2026

Inyatsi leaders shape strategy for sustainable growth

Inyatsi Group Holdings has concluded a week-long strategy meeting aimed at challenging conventional thinking, aligning priorities and shaping…

Read article

Times of EswatiniAug 2026

Inyatsi Construction building foundations of First World future

For more than four decades, Eswatini has witnessed one of the most significant periods of infrastructure development in its history. Under the leadership and vision of His Majesty King Mswati III, roads, commercial de...

Read article

Times of EswatiniJul 2026

Maloma operations back to normal

MALOMA – Operations have successfully resumed at Maloma Colliery Limited following a brief work stoppage linked to annual salary negotiations. Mine management has confirmed that production is back to normal, demonstra...

Read article

Times of EswatiniJul 2026

Inyatsi managers’ mid-term summit speaks to integrity, leadership

NSULUTANE – About 80 managers of Inyatsi Group Holdings convened at the Nsulutane Hotel for a vibrant Mid-year Inyatsi Group Leadership Forum. The forum was aimed at equipping the leaders on leadership proficiencies,...

Read article

Times of EswatiniJun 2026

Embiveni supports Berachah Kitchen Influencers’ Appreciation Dinner

Embiveni partnered with Berachah Kitchen in hosting the Influencers’ Appreciation Dinner, demonstrating its continued commitment to supporting platforms that recognize talent, encourage innovation, and empower Emaswat...

Read article

Contact

Speaking, media and partnership enquiries

For interviews, speaking invitations and partnership proposals, send a short note and the office will respond.

LinkedInMichelo Shakantu X@MicheloShakantu FacebookMichelo Shakantu

MicheloShakantu

From a construction company to a diversified African group.

An entrepreneur building across Africa.

Building, one industry at a time.

Construction roots

Telecommunications

Manufacturing

Mining

Media

Today

One group, many industries.

Inyatsi Construction

Construction Associates

Infracast

Eswatini Mobile

E-Mali

Lidwala Insurance

The Clinic Group

Maloma Colliery

Eswatini Meat Industries

Times of Eswatini

Rubicon Media Group

Inyatsi Properties

Nsulutane Hlane Hotel

Nkonyeni Estate

What the group stands for.

Accountability

Agility

Commitment

Teamwork

Embrace change

Business that builds people.

Jobs at scale

Communities

Leadership development

Women in leadership

In the news.

Inyatsi Foundation brings food relief to grandmother of nine in Matsanjeni

Inyatsi leaders shape strategy for sustainable growth

Inyatsi Construction building foundations of First World future

Maloma operations back to normal

Inyatsi managers’ mid-term summit speaks to integrity, leadership

Embiveni supports Berachah Kitchen Influencers’ Appreciation Dinner

Notes from the boardroom

Speaking, media and partnership enquiries

Michelo
Shakantu