Our Remarkable Events Accomplishments
Discover our achievements and see why Mwai is the right fit for your organization as an events and travel management partner. These case studies from across the continent demonstrate our success in providing exceptional event and travel experiences:
Events in Zambia – 2016 and counting!
Over 50 + Events
Since 2016, I have organized and coordinated over 50 events in several parts of the Zambia and the country is my primary base of my operations. These events have ranged from small (less than 30 delegates), medium (50 to a 100 delegates) (to large events over 100 delegates). During this time, I have provided events management support for different entities including providing written guidance that has informed their stipend policies taking into consideration local and international delegate stipends practices and standards. With my vast experience in the sector, I have also established a network of reliable vendors including hotels, caterers, printers, vehicle hire companies and video conference service providers making it easy to for Mwai to meet a range of client’s requirements and expectations. The events I have organized in Zambia over the years have involved an array of stakeholders including those from international governments, the Zambian government and civil society organizations at all levels of seniority. Taonga Tembo, Managing Director at Mwai.
International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2023)
CPHIA 2023 was hosted in Lusaka Zambia. Here, I coordinated the travel arrangement of over 70 delegates from Europe and Africa. I worked with various local teams to coordinate accommodation and local transport arrangements. Drawing from lessons learned from arranging side events and travel at CPHIA 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda, I ensured we had a head start and secured delegate accommodation early resulting in getting excellent value for money. I further coordinated and facilitated payment for delegate conference registration and payment to CPHIA 2023 related to side events. I further coordinated a corporate mixer of over 100 people on the sidelines of CPHIA for delegates and their partners from other organizations hosted by a senior government official. During the mixer I ensured that the catering, delegate transportation and entertainment were all booked and as per requirement. At this event I also facilitated for the payment of stipends to delegates a few hours after their arrival. Taonga Tembo, Managing Director at Mwai
African Poisons Center Network Annual Conference 2023
I coordinated the organizing of the African Poisons Network Annual Conference in 2023. This event brought together delegates from over 15 African countries The African Poisons Center Network 2023 happened in Kitwe, Copperbelt province of Zambia. I found this event challenging partly because we were flying delegates from across Africa and Europe to the Kitwe the second of Zambia with the closest airport 45-minute drive with limited international flights. Nonetheless, we pulled it off successfully leaving delegates very satisfied. Prior to the event, I drafted visa guidance for the delegates that needed VISAs and supported them through the Visa application process. I further ensured that all delegates were catered for by arranging translation services in Portuguese, French, and further coordinated the translation of event presentations and other documents into French and Portuguese. I also coordinated and supervised delegate registration and payment of delegate stipends. Branding was a key element of this event hence I coordinated printers to design and produce backdrop and pull up banners and worked with the hotel to place the branding and set up the room according to the requirements. This event was hybrid with participants joining from across the continent hence I coordinated the procuring of video conferring services. Taonga Tembo, Managing Director at Mwai
Inclusive Community Engagement in Zambia (Project SHINE) 2024
As part of Project SHINE, I facilitated over 15 community and stakeholder-focused events aimed at advancing human rights and visibility for marginalized communities in Zambia. We kicked off with a comprehensive introductory meeting, bringing together leaders from local NGOs, government, foreign missions, and community groups. This gathering set a collaborative foundation, guiding our efforts toward a unified vision for inclusivity and support for marginalized groups. I also coordinated an impactful media workshop, equipping project staff with skills for effective media engagement in Zambia’s dynamic media landscape. This training prepared our team to handle public relations confidently, ensuring sensitivity and professionalism in discussions about human rights. Furthering this initiative, we organized over ten podcast episodes, hosting over 20 guest speakers to discuss mental health, human rights, and cultural acceptance, creating a powerful platform for advocacy and community-building. Brian Imboela Kantooma, Director of Key Accounts and New Business at Mwai.
Consultative Meetings (Project SHINE) 2024
In partnership with local organizations, I coordinated multiple consultative meetings with traditional and religious leaders and family members of individuals from marginalized communities. Each meeting offered open, respectful dialogue, focusing on fostering understanding and cultural inclusivity. A mental health workshop provided a safe space for participants to openly discuss challenges, led by professional counselors.
These events, strategically planned and executed, have strengthened our network of allies, broadened perspectives among key stakeholders, and reinforced Mwai’s role as a trusted partner in promoting rights and inclusivity. Brian Imboela Kantooma, Director of Key Accounts and New Business at Mwai.
Media and Skill Development Training (Power of Pride Project) 2023 & 2024
Within the Power of Pride program, I managed a series of skill-building and advocacy-focused events designed to foster inclusivity and elevate representation for marginalized communities in Zambia. Key activities included digital media training and internships for individuals from these communities, sensitivity training for journalists, and security workshops for social media influencers. These efforts aimed to develop strong, confident advocates for human rights, providing essential skills and practical experience.
Our journalist sensitivity training welcomed participants from top media outlets in traditional print, radio and television, and emerging digital online media platforms, teaching ethical reporting practices and fostering allyship in the press. The outcomes were immediate, with journalists committing to support inclusive media narratives. Additionally, our digital media internships continue to provide hands-on experience, bridging the gap between training and real-world applications for advocates from marginalized communities.
Brian Imboela Kantooma, Director of Key Accounts and New Business at Mwai.
Events in East Africa
International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) 2019
In 2019, I was returned to lead the coordination of events at ICASA 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda. At this point I had coordinated serval events on the African continent particularly in South Africa and Botswana. At ICASA 2019, I led the organizing of two side events both involving over 50 delegates and one corporate dinner involving over 200 delegates. Rwanda’s hospitality industry is well developed, organized, and has a good offering as well as deliberate government policy to encourage the conferencing sector hence organizing events in Kigali is easy to navigate. Flights into Kigali from around Africa were also easy to organize and book as Rwanda air flew to all but one region (North Africa) in Africa at the time. I arrived a few days early to meet with the hotel to finalize the rooming list and further meet with the meeting venue to look at the meeting room options and advise on set up. During the events, I worked with a few volunteers to coordinate registration and stipend payment to the delegates. We experienced a shortage in accommodation as the hotel overbooked and I successfully worked at resolving this issue and arranged alternative accommodation for delegates. At this event I also supported with organizing conference speakers through my networks at the main conference. Taonga Tembo, Managing Director at Mwai
International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2022)
CPHIA 2022 involved coordinating the travel arrangements of over 50 delegates from across Africa and Europe. This time around because of the nature of the activity, I went on a scoping trip to Kigali weeks before the event to physically meet and discuss our requirements with the various vendors. Vendors met during the scoping visit included hotels providing accommodation and meeting space, vendors providing large format printing services and vendors providing simultaneous translation services. We discussed with the vendors our requirements and negotiated the rates to suit the budget requirements. We also took the opportunity of being on the ground to promptly facilitate down payments to all the vendors to ensure we secured the bookings. Booking flights into Kigali was easy to navigate with most flights booked through Rwanda Air or Ethiopian. I also arranged and ensured that stipends to the advised delegates were paid in US dollars as advised. I also coordinated the creation of the rooming list and divided the delegates among two hotels based on a criterion advised. I also engaged a local driver to support coordination of airport transfers and local transport support for the various delegates. At the side event itself, we coordinated set up event room with the hotel and had a briefing with the translation team. We also coordinated delegate registration during the side event. Taonga Tembo, Managing Director at Mwai
Events in West Africa
International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) 2017
ICASA 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire was my debut organizing events at continental level on the African continent. I coordinated the organizing of two side events at the conference one involving over 50 delegates and the other involving over 200 delegates. At these events, I ensured all was in order and supervised volunteers to support with registration of delegates and payments of stipends. Prior to the event, I facilitated all flight bookings for over 30 delegates from across the African continent. I also negotiated with various vendors securing accommodation for over 50 delegates at a competitive price. To ensure that all was in order prior to the side events, I deliberately arrived in the Abidjan two days early not only to ensure that airport shuttles and meet and greets were in place but to as well work with the hotel to set up the meetings rooms and to finalize the rooming lists. Taonga Tembo, Managing Director at Mwai
Events around Southern Africa
Most of the events I have organized on the African continent have been in Southern African with several in South Africa. South Africa is the premier international conferencing country on the African continent with options of hosting in events in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Cape town including their surrounding areas all within reach. The hospitality industry is fully developed and all events I have coordinated in South Africa have required limited supervision of vendors. I have always found it easy even post the Covid19 pandemic to sourcing and book flights to any major city in South Africa for events. Further, I have also found it easy to book and arrange comfortable mid-range accommodation that cater to government and civil society business needs as these are a plentiful option in South Africa. In addition, I have organized events in other parts of Southern Africa like Namibia and Botswana. Taonga Tembo, Managing Director at Mwai