Erik Charas is a young Mozambican entrepreneur and self-styled social activist. His company, Charas LDA, invests in young Mozambican entrepreneurs. It targets the very bottom strata of society with a view to transforming the next generation of Mozambicans into successful small business owners. On top of his other responsibilities, Mr Charas is also president of Mozambique’s biggest circulation newspaper, Verdade.
Among his other accolades, Mr Charas was voted a Hero of Africa in 2005 by media group MSN and was named a Young Global Leader in 2006 by the World Economic Forum. He believes passionately that the key challenge Africans face is creating a unique identity. “To stand alone in an African society is almost impossible. To think differently, or differently from the norm, is a risky and dangerous thing in these parts of the world,” he says.
As to how he managed to succeed in such a demanding business environment, Mr Charas says that perseverance is the key.
“Adversity is part of everyday life but the trick is to never give up,” he says. “These are very hands-on societies. Nothing can be trusted: check and double-check everything all the time. Be a control freak. Nothing comes easy in this continent or in this country.”
Looking ahead, Mr Charas believes that Africa needs to create positive role models, not just politicians and liberation leaders, but ordinary people who struggle to exist in a hostile environment. Corruption must also be tackled. “We should not have mercy on corrupt individuals and must make them accountable for their actions,” he says.
“I am part of a generation that believes we deserve better. A better Africa. A great and prosperous Africa, filled with new ideas and that the current scenario is just unacceptable.”
Erik Charas’ African hero: His father, and Nelson Mandela
“My father, because he believes that we are all entitled to live a dignified life and we should pursue our dreams regardless, and Nelson Mandela, the father of all us Africans!”