Lessons from Zororo Makamba
Today marks five years since my friend Zororo Makamba passed away, due to the timing - he is widely considered the very first COVID-19 victim in Zimbabwe. To say it's surreal doesn't begin to capture it. Losing Zororo is still something that I cannot reconcile and struggle deeply to accept - so I don’t.
Writing this today, hurts, but reflecting on his life illuminates lessons that I use daily in my business and career. To honour him, I want to draw clear parallels between how Zororo lived and how those principles translate into valuable insights for the readers of this website, angel investors & founders. His life is proof that living righteously has ripple effects that extend far beyond one’s immediate circle. For that, I endlessly thank his parents Irene & James, his sister Kushinga, his late sister Chiedza who once saved my life (true story) and his brother Tawanda.
Zororo was far from ordinary. He was fiercely loyal, relentlessly ambitious, incredibly talented, and brutally honest. He had a spark that made him unforgettable, and his legacy continues to shape how I think, live, and invest.
His untimely passing exposed the harsh realities of Zimbabwe’s healthcare system - how swiftly even the privileged can fall victim to systemic failures. Yet, even in tragedy, he taught me about resilience and legacy; his death became his loudest "State of the Nation" address, exposing truths we often choose to overlook.
Loyalty & Boundaries
Zororo was profoundly loyal to his friends and family & sometimes at personal cost. Yet he maintained clear boundaries: cross him, and he'd communicate it directly, with respect but without hesitation. Years later, he'd check back in, hopeful you'd grown. He embodied Aristotle’s concept of virtue ethics, believing true loyalty required fairness and clear boundaries.
Investor Application:
Six months after investing in a digital health startup, let’s call it HealthySync, I was approached by a former employee starting her own similar venture. She presented a compelling pitch, addressing clear weaknesses I'd privately identified in HealthySync.
Investing in this new startup was tempting but would breach crucial trust. HealthySync's founders had entrusted me with proprietary strategies and sensitive insights. Trust is the cornerstone of the startup ecosystem; violating it would damage my reputation irreparably.
Rather than simply declining, I communicated clearly: "Your concept is impressive, but my existing investment creates a conflict. This isn't personal—it's about maintaining the trust founders place in me. I'll gladly introduce you to other investors without this conflict and offer feedback to enhance your pitch."
With HealthySync, I didn’t share specifics of the competitor’s strategy but raised targeted questions to help them identify vulnerabilities. This delicate balance ensured I honoured both relationships ethically and constructively.
Clear boundaries make loyalty meaningful and sustainable, fostering trust essential for deeper, more productive partnerships.
Radical Honesty
Zororo had a deep commitment to truth. Destined for politics but allergic to political dishonesty, he spoke truths others danced around. As Nietzsche said, "Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed," yet Zororo understood truth as a moral imperative.
Investor Application:
A startup founder in my portfolio was adamant that customers sign one-year contracts instead of trials. However, prospective customers resisted such rigid terms, so the startup implemented a three-month "break clause," effectively creating trial periods.
Privately, though, the startup continued to report Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) as if customers completed the full year—even after customers exercised the break clause and terminated their trials early. This practice inflated ARR misleadingly, masking the company’s true financial health.
Recognising this, I addressed the founder directly: "Counting terminated trials as full-year revenue misrepresents reality. Honest and transparent reporting is crucial. Let’s face the uncomfortable truth together and rebuild your financial and product strategies based on accurate data—not wishful thinking."
This kind of honesty isn't always easy, but it’s essential. Investors must consistently prioritise transparency over comfort, as honesty ultimately leads to sustainable success.
Embracing the Awkward
Men rarely discuss their feelings, but with Zororo, nothing was taboo. Ambitions, fears, failures - we laid it bare. Our emails on girl dramas should be hung in the Louvre. His openness created emotional safety, enriching our friendship. It echoed Seneca’s belief that vulnerability is true strength.
Investor Application:
I recently visited a portfolio founder who seemed noticeably distressed. After some tense silence, she admitted their runway had shrunk from eight months to under two due to unexpected delays and poor cash management. She was deeply ashamed, reluctant even to ask for bridge financing.
Instead of reacting negatively, I reassured her: "Cash flow issues happen—they don't reflect on your character or competence. I'm grateful you shared this now rather than later. Let’s calmly understand what went wrong, what you've learnt, and how we can move forward constructively."
Together, we addressed the issue, implemented new financial oversight, and structured a supportive bridge financing round. Within months, the business stabilised, and she successfully raised a Series A round.
Embracing awkward conversations creates psychological safety, turning potential disasters into manageable challenges. This lesson, inspired by Zororo, has transformed how I approach difficult discussions with founders.
Master of Strategic Pivot
Watching Zororo pivot was like attending a masterclass in adaptability. Radio was in his blood - his father, Dr James Makamba - one of the worlds most interesting men, was a broadcasting legend - but Zororo soon recognised the medium’s limitations in Zimbabwe, especially in our time. Strategically shifting to digital media, he launched "Tonight With Zororo," later pivoting again due to licensing limitations.
Investor Application:
A legal tech startup I supported initially focused on large corporate law firms but struggled to gain traction. Recognising this, the founder pivoted boldly towards SMEs, offering accessible legal solutions tailored to their needs. This pivot resulted in rapid growth, disrupting traditional legal services and attracting significant partnerships.
Investors must encourage adaptability, recognising when to persist and when strategic pivoting is necessary for long-term success.
Competing to Win, Properly
Zororo’s competitive drive was extraordinary but grounded in meticulous excellence. He aimed for rigorous standards, meticulous research, and unparalleled execution. For him, victory wasn’t merely about winning - it was about preserving and enhancing the family legacy. This resonated with Kant’s principle of ethical action: doing what’s right, not merely what’s expedient.
Investor Application:
An insurtech startup I invested in faced pressure to pay a "facilitation fee" for a significant government contract. Despite considerable internal debate, the founder refused on principle, emphasising ethical integrity over short-term gain. Although initially losing the contract, the startup later benefited when competitors who paid bribes were caught in scandals. The startup’s integrity ultimately attracted better, sustainable opportunities.
Patience & Perspective
During my "mistake period" (2011–2014) I was in such a rush, Zororo sent me a memorable voice note. Listing athletes like Kallis, Tendulkar, Mayweather, Woods, Manning—he reminded me their peaks were 10 years away from where I was. His reassuring words, "The good years are still to come" reshaped my impatience into clarity, reminding me of Lao Tzu’s wisdom: "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."
Investor Application:
An AI-powered project management tool, despite superior technology, faced slow growth. Reframing their approach to focus on education, community-building, and patient market cultivation eventually positioned the startup as indispensable for SMEs, emphasising patience as strategic strength.
Genuine Network Building
Once, I dabbled in the music industry. I was working with a musician and needed connections. Naturally, I called Zororo. What he did next was uniquely Makamba. If you know the family, you’ll know precisely what I mean. Without hesitation, he emailed his key contact, Alex Okosi, then the MD of Viacom in Africa, vouching wholeheartedly for me. Alex promptly introduced me to his contacts in London, where I am based. The very next day, I was sitting in Nick Gatfield's (Former Sony Music CEO) office, and the following day, with Christian Tattersfield (Former Warner Music CEO). Those two meetings alone meant that every label head, all of a sudden wanted the musician that I was working with. A deal was inked a week later. Zororo's willingness to leverage his network so generously and authentically left the deepest impression on me. These days, I am well known for how I connect people. I learnt this from my bro, Zororo.
Investor Application:
Instead of transactional "exits," I coach founders to see acquisitions as strategic entries into larger ecosystems. I coach founders to cultivate genuine relationships within their industry. One healthtech founder became a respected thought leader, leading naturally to successful acquisition discussions, underpinned by mutual trust and shared vision.
Front-Row Lessons
My friendship with Zororo provided invaluable real-world business education. By observing his negotiations, media interactions, and strategic planning, I learned:
Negotiation creates mutual value, not victories.
Team-building understands personal motivations.
Strategic adaptability trumps rigid planning.
Authenticity is the strongest negotiation tool.
Networks thrive through genuine relationships.
These lived experiences surpass theoretical knowledge, forming the foundation for my current investment approach.
Reflecting on Zororo’s remarkable life, these principles deeply influence how I invest and relate:
Prioritise loyalty with clear boundaries.
Practise radical honesty compassionately.
Create emotional safety for difficult conversations.
Encourage strategic adaptability.
Seek excellence rooted in integrity.
Value patience as strategic strength.
Build authentic, generous networks.
Zororo’s life, though heartbreakingly short, continues to profoundly inspire and instruct. Today, reflecting on his enduring influence, I clearly hear his reassuring voice:
"Shamu the good years are yet to come, the good times are yet to come bro. We've got a lot of time until we're there and that's exciting!"
___
Killz,
My guy, I miss you man. I never fully appreciated how fortunate I was to have you as a friend. Losing those three years due to my misguided era still weighs on me, but your willingness to welcome me back fundamentally shaped the person I've become today. You've left me navigating a landscape populated by clowns - we knew that they were clowns but who knew they were dedicated enough to actually end up in the circus. I don
A couple of updates:
Kase and I finally addressed our issue or, rather, I apologised, and Kase instantly responded with, "What are you up to tonight?"! That night, halfway soaked, Kase pulls me aside and goes: “Yo, You know, Zororo had a-lot of love for you!”. Bro, thank God I have become a master at holding back my tears because it was going to be a heavy chems in the club.
Melusi and I are so close that he even joined us for Christmas last year. despite his preference for Federer over Nadal / Novak, He is one hell of a guy! I spoke to Nyarai - there's genuinely nothing on this earth she could need that would ever be too much.
The group chat with Geoff is still standing, heartbreakingly the last message remains your announcement about heading into hospital. I re-read the texts between us a few weeks before, you telling me to come to New York. It’s stings because the journey from Toronto to NY is so short, but in my mind - I was going to be seeing you in a few months in SA anyway.
When news of your death hit - everyone that was anyone in SA reached out to me. Tumelo Ramaphosa, Pearl Thusi, Mfumu Mhinga, , Cassper Nyovest, AKA - who is also no longer with us. I could go on Killz, everyone from ‘the SA year’ reached out. Some, I cannot mention because that would be snitching! You made an impact on a-lot of people. Those nights in Illovo, In Sandhurst & at Tawanda’s apartment live forever in my memory. The dinners that Tawanda and Dr James would take us to were formative, that Makamba Hospitality is second to none.
I don’t F with State of The Nation today. When I think about the pivots you made between 2014 and 2020 from radio all the way to SOTN, it’s difficult to reconcile that vision with where things stand now in Africa, generally. Even crossing borders, it feels like innovation has stalled. I regularly watch Sizwe’s show, SMWX, and although I like him, I can't help feeling disappointed. He's essentially replicated a globally established podcast format tailored to South Africa. Meanwhile, there’s still nothing quite like SOTN anywhere else in the world. You were genuinely breaking new ground, and it saddens me deeply that it hasn't evolved further. With the greatest respect to everyone currently involved in it, it just doesn't reflect the dynamic change and growth I know you would have driven.
Our '“project“ with Jared Kushner didn't pan out, it wasn't entirely fruitless. I now have an active co-investment relationship with his brother, Joshua. Killz I wish I could tell you about the sheets I’m touching.
Through all of this, the one thing sustaining me comes from a recommendation by my therapist: Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav. Zukav's insights have profoundly reshaped my understanding of death, framing it not as an end but rather as a meaningful transition. He argues that the soul is eternal, transcending physical form; human existence, therefore, is merely one brief chapter within the soul's expansive journey. He describes our bodies as temporary vessels for spiritual growth, aligning closely with philosophies of reincarnation and continuous spiritual evolution prevalent in Eastern traditions. Earth is depicted as a spiritual classroom, where physical death signifies the completion of one set of lessons and the initiation of another chapter in our soul’s endless evolution. Embracing this perspective inspires a life lived with greater intention, compassion, and fearlessness, free from transient, ego-driven pursuits.
Or, as Jigga said in Beach Chair: "My physical is a shell, so when I say farewell - my soul will find an even higher plane to dwell."
I take immense comfort from believing you're exactly where you're meant to be, pursuing precisely what you're intended to pursue. Having known you in this life, in your human form, stands as one of the greatest privileges I've ever experienced.
Shamu