Full Name: Methembeni Moyo

Position and Company Name: Construction and mining lawyer at NSDV

Main Activity of the Company: NSDV is an African law firm specialising in mining, construction, energy, and environmental law

Date and Place of Birth: January 13, 1988, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Schools and Tertiary Education: A-Level, Christian Brothers’ College, Bulawayo; bachelor’s degree in political science, University of Pretoria; LLB, University of South Africa (Unisa); prospecting and mining certificate, University of the Witwatersrand

First Job: Information officer for a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) in Bulawayo

Size of First Pay Packet: $250 a month

Career Path to Date: Before I became a lawyer, I worked for a local human rights NGO in Bulawayo. I then worked for a national NGO in Zimbabwe. While I was working in the NGO space, I studied law through Unisa. After completing my law studies, I practised mining law in Harare, Zimbabwe, for a law firm associated with a global practice as local counsel. I was privileged to work on interesting mining matters in the lithium, oil and gas, nickel, diamond, platinum, and gold sectors. I decided to move to South Africa to be with my family (my wife and sons are South African). In South Africa, I practised construction law – and was fortunate to work on large construction disputes in the renewable energy, power and mining sectors. After about two years, I moved to a legal tech company where my sole client was a multinational diversified mining company. I recently joined NSDV, where I straddle the construction and mining law departments. Drawing from my experience in mining transactions outside South Africa, my vision is to contribute to the growth of our service offering into Africa – the Southern African Development Community region in particular.

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated

Number of People under Your Leadership: Not stated

Management Style: Fair and accessible

Personal Best Achievement: Becoming a lawyer

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My first boss, Dumisani Nkomo, founder of Habakkuk Trust, who planted in me the seeds of effective and passionate storytelling and public speaking, skills I regard essential in law, and Lloyd Manokore, the founder of Manokore Attorneys (DLA Piper Africa Zimbabwe), who is the consummate networker and whose rolodex is probably as deep as a diplomat’s

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father and my mother will always get special mention. Of late, however, I realise that my wife has had the most influence on my life – she is gifted with a fearless honesty, which has challenged me to work on my weaknesses and take risks

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Charles Spurgeon (if he were still alive)

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Strive Mayisiwa

Philosophy of Life: All things work together for good

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Joining NSDV – there just isn’t another law firm like them

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Realising the magnitude of the missed opportunities for Africa’s economies

Hope for the Future: My children

Favourite Reading: Military and political history

Favourite TV Programme: Any good war documentary

Favourite Food/Drink: Beef and pap

Favourite Music: Gospel

Favourite Sport: Rugby (the Springboks)

Hobbies: Playing in the backyard with my boys

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: A German Shephard

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Very long power cuts

Married: To Khomotso Moyo

Children: Kgosi, 6; Lolo, 4

Clubs: None