About:

Joseph has done business in the hospitality, film, television, and digital marketing industries in various countries, including South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, and has worked with partners in the public, private, and NGO sectors. He has qualifications in Hotel, Hospitality & Tourism from the School of Hospitality and Tourism. He is a member of the Catenian Association.

Joseph is a board member of Glenrand M.I.B Zimbabwe, Arupe Jesuit University Ethics Board, TechZim & Pindula News (publications), National Arts Council of Zimbabwe Film Strategy National Team, and St. Michael’s Presentation Primary School (retired). With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality, film, and digital marketing sectors, Joseph Bunga is a dynamic entrepreneur with an exceptional eye for opportunity and a knack for relationship marketing. He has acquired significant local and regional experience, having worked in the Zimbabwean, Zambian, South African, and Botswana markets at various stages in his career. His experience includes the following areas: Film and Television Production, Digital Marketing and Publishing, Hospitality, Brand Building, Entrepreneur & Team Leader, and Project & Business Process Management.

Joseph is the founder of Area 46 Productions and The Livestreaming Company and Executive Producer of Zimbabwe’s first reality television series, “Battle of the Chefs,” which also pioneered the Advertiser Funded Programming model with ZBC, Zimbabwe’s national broadcaster. To date, Battle of the Chefs has run for three seasons on Zimbabwean television as well as two seasons on Vox Africa TV and Sky TV in the United Kingdom. In 2017, Joe co-produced the movie “Cook Off,” which went on to become the first Zimbabwean film to be screened on Netflix. In 2021, Area 46 Productions hosted the European Film Festival (EUFF) at their offices in Harare. The company also supports local film festivals and platforms through the Zimbabwe Film Festival Trust (ZIFFT) and the Zimbabwe Industry Development Platform (ZFIDP).

Joe is a content creator of note, and his digital footprint speaks for itself. He founded and published the Hello Harare Restaurant & Lifestyle magazine, as well as working with various clients on digital marketing and advertising campaigns. Joe’s experience in the hospitality industry includes an early working career at Meikles Hotel and later founding and launching brands like the Eatout booking platform, Hello Harare Restaurant Magazine, and the ZOL Restaurant Week seasonal event, which have all enjoyed widespread success in Zimbabwe’s food sector.

Joe has established a strong reputation as a brand builder. Among other brands, he founded Area 46 Productions, Area 46 Innovation Hub (self-funded), Battle of the Chefs, Joey’s Pizza, Becky’s, and The Livestreaming Company, which was created as a COVID response initiative designed to gather families virtually around important events. At Riverwalk and Harvest International, brands he founded and operated in South Africa, Joseph dealt in the import and export of agricultural and other commodities, warehousing structures, and transaction logistics. He has extensive experience working with startups and was instrumental in the ZOL Startup Challenge (later renamed Liquid Telecom) and StartUpBus Africa.

Joseph has accumulated considerable expertise in marketing, business development, and resource mobilization as a private entrepreneur in the hospitality, film production, and digital marketing sectors. As an entrepreneur, Joe has successfully led teams (particularly in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa) during the design, planning, and implementation of major productions, events, and projects. He places great value on team strength, diversity, and culture.

Joseph sits on a number of boards as an independent non-executive director. In various executive management roles, he gained a wealth of hands-on experience in the areas of strategy, governance, administration, communications, public relations, human resource management, resource mobilization, and the management of physical and financial assets.

Joe has a unique blend of skills and experience arising from his exposure to a wide range of industries. He has worked on various projects funded or supported by development partners such as UNDP, Concern, Care International, Jesuit Relief Services, Welt Hungerlife, Jesuit-Team-Up-To-Clean-Up, and others.