When Simba Mukonzo, CEO of Mukfin, reflects on his company’s journey, it’s a story deeply intertwined with his own professional evolution, one rooted in reinsurance, driven by education, and guided by a pan-African vision.

“I’ve been a reinsurance person from day one,” he says. “It’s what I studied, what I’ve practiced, and what I’ve come to understand best over more than two decades.”

From personal journey to professional purpose – Simba's career began in Zimbabwe, where he studied insurance and risk management before joining FBC Reinsurance Company (then known as Southern Africa Reinsurance company), as his first job as an intern in 2001.

Over the next 16 years, he worked across Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa, moving from reinsurance to the direct market with New National Assurance Company, and eventually into a senior role with Emeritus Reinsurance Company as the Head of Technical. But at a certain point, he realised the next step wasn’t another corporate position, it was entrepreneurship.

That realisation led to the founding of Mukfin in 2017, a South African-based reinsurance brokerage that has since grown into a regional player. “For me,” he recalls, “it was about doing what I know best, and what I know best is reinsurance.”

Mukfin was built to offer reinsurance solutions across South Africa and the rest of Africa, bridging technical expertise with a strong understanding of local market needs. What began as a small operation quickly evolved into a dynamic, multi-country business grounded in professionalism and purpose.

Training: Giving back through knowledge - One of the defining features of Simba’s career, and by extension Mukfin’s identity, is training. For him, sharing knowledge isn’t a side project; it’s a core pillar of the business.

“Training is part of giving back,” he explains. “I’ve benefited immensely from this industry, from mentors, from opportunities, from access to information. So training is my way of passing that on.”

Simba’s passion for learning began early in his career, when he would compile technical material on reinsurance and specialised insurance products to teach colleagues and junior staff. Today, Mukfin’s training function has grown into a structured offering that supports both internal staff and external partners.

Their programmes range from induction training for new employees and product-specific workshops to board member training on governance, solvency, and evolving regulatory frameworks. Importantly, all Mukfin training is delivered by industry practitioners who work directly in the field, ensuring relevance and practical application.

“Our training isn’t theoretical. It’s about practitioners sharing real experiences,” says Simba. “That’s how we make sure it’s current, valuable, and aligned to what’s happening in the industry.”

A pan-African vision in motion - From the outset, Mukfin was conceived as a Pan-African reinsurance broker, not just serving the South African market but connecting African insurers to each other and to international markets. South Africa’s position as a financial services hub provides a natural platform for this.

“South Africa is one of the strongest insurance markets in Africa,” Simba notes. “Our role is to provide access, linking our African partners to that expertise and capacity.”

To maintain relevance and agility in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment, Mukfin has established operations in key African markets such as Botswana and Zambia. Botswana, he explains, is fast emerging as a hub for regional reinsurance, while Zambia represents a strong and growing segment of Mukfin’s portfolio.