Clemence Jaricha leans back in his office chair, gesturing towards architectural renderings of his latest project—a gleaming US$90 million mall rising in Harare.
"This isn't just another shopping center," the serial entrepreneur told The SportsHub.
"It's the heartbeat of a new urban economy."
Jaricha has built CJ Global Express Group Unlimited into a pan-African powerhouse with tentacles in 45 countries. But what sets this businessman apart is not just the scale of his operations—it is his unique fusion of commerce, community development, and sports.
What began as a logistics firm has blossomed into a seven-division conglomerate spanning real estate, construction, and surprisingly, football.
"People ask why I bought Ajax Hotspurs," Jaricha mused.
"I tell them—sport moves economies. Every match day puts food on vendors' tables, puts taxis to work. That's real impact."
Industry watchers are taking notice.
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"Prof Jaricha's model represents the new African capitalism," said Nomsa Dube, a Bulawayo-based economist.
"He's cracked how to blend profit with palpable social benefit."
The Harare mall project—a two-story, 90,000-square-foot development—embodies Jaricha's philosophy. Local contractors handle 60% of construction, while negotiations are underway with South African retailers eyeing Zimbabwe's untapped consumer market.
"We're creating 1,200 permanent jobs," Jaricha notes.
"But more importantly, we're building skills. The electricians, plumbers, and managers trained here will uplift entire industries."
His 51% stake in Ajax Hotspurs FC is not vanity ownership. The club now runs youth academies in three provinces, with a logistics apprenticeship programme for players, who don't turn professional.
"Talent is Africa's greatest export," Jaricha asserts.
"We're just packaging it better."
As the exclusive interview draws to a close, the academic-turned-mogul grows reflective.
"They'll remember two things in Africa—who built infrastructure, and who developed people. I intend to do both," he said.
With expansion plans into Zambia and Mozambique taking shape, Jaricha's blueprint for African business might just become the continent's playbook.
