Co-founder of The Africa Channel and originally from Zimbabwe , Mr. Makawa is one of the few executives from Sub-Saharan Africa to have enjoyed a successful career in both local and network television in the United States . For more than 10 years, Mr. Makawa worked as a local news reporter and anchor with leading local stations before joining NBC News as a correspondent in New York and Chicago.

Mr. Makawa returned to South Africa and co-founded the African Barter Company (ABC), in partnership with Grey Advertising Worldwide. ABC was the first barter syndication company ever launched in Africa . Mr. Makawa cleared hundreds of hours on TV stations across the continent reaching an audience topping 150 million. In 2000, Mr. Makawa co-founded the African Broadcast Network, a pan African network of television stations with affiliates in 18 countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa . As ABN 's executive vice president for program acquisition and distribution, Mr. Makawa acquired programming from such U.S. program suppliers as NBC, CBS, MGM , Columbia Tri-Star, Endemol and Paramount . During his tenure with the African Broadcast Network, Mr. Makawa also served as a member of the Board.