The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Business Correspondent
LEADING learning institution, Africa University, was the biggest winner at this year’s Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Manicaland business awards held last Friday at Golden Peacock Hotel after winning the tertiary institution award while its Vice chancellor, Professor Munashe Furusa won the business leadership award.
Mutare Polytechnic and Mutare Teachers College were first and second runners-up respectively in the tertiary institution awards while Prof Furusa was trailed by Mutare Poly’s principal, Mrs Poniso Watema and Skyview Hotel’s Rachael Mugwagwa.
In a statement, Africa University said they were honoured for its transformation into a hub for training, business enterprise and its effortless ability to seamlessly integrate industry and higher education through its business academy.
“Winning the nod for tertiary institution of the year, Africa University has time and again been hailed for its consistency in delivering uniquely crafted and relevant programmes that not only create leaders for Africa but also capacitate those already in positions of influence to anticipate the critical needs areas of the continent that are diverse and constantly shifting. Vice-Chancellor Professor Munashe Furusa won the Business Leadership Award, an accolade that speaks to the trajectory that the institution is taking regarding synergies between business and education. The union between the entities of higher education and industry has been necessitated through the understanding that sustainable socio-economic development is borne not in a vacuum or silos but through intentional and purposeful cooperation, a drive that Africa University is at the forefront of leading,” said the statement.
World Vision came out tops in the corporate social responsibility category while Rujeko home-based care and Tendai Chitowa were first and second runners up respectively. The late hard-working and innovative businessman, Hlanganiso Matangaidze was honoured posthumously with a lifetime achievement award.
ZCDC retained the award they scooped again last year after they came out tops in the sustainable development goals champion award. Plan International and Nyaradzo Group were first and second runners-up respectively. In the ICT innovation award, Tel One came out tops while NetOne and Liquid Telecomms were first and second runners-up respectively.
In the education enterprise category, First Class Academy emerged winners while Hillbright Group of Schools and St Noah Group of Schools were first and second runners-up respectively.
SMEDCO came out tops in the enterprise development support category while Destiny of Afrika Network and Associated Foods Zimbabwe were first and second runners up respectively.
Agribank emerged winners in the financial institution supporting SMEs category while Nedbank was second in the same category. In the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe exporter awards, Tanganda Tea Company emerged tops in the agriculture exporter of the year category while Eastern Highlands Plantations and Wattle Company were first and second runners-up respectively.
Matanuska Distribution and Border Timbers Ltd won the horticulture exporter of the year and manufacturing exporter of the year awards respectively.
In the non-consumptive tourism exporter of the year category, Avis Rent a Car emerged winners while Holiday Inn Mutare and Golden Peacock Villa were first and second runners-up respectively. Makoni Rural District Council scooped the overall performance rural local authority award, while Nyanga RDC won the service delivery rural local authority award. Buhera RDC won the governance rural local authority award while the overall performance urban local authority award was scooped by Rusape Town Council.
Youthful businessman, Lloyd Mapunga won the outstanding resilient young entrepreneur award while another innovative and hard-working businessman Knowledge Murigwa won the young entrepreneur award. Chipo Chitowa is this year’s rural businessperson of the year while Panganai Murigwa and businessman Lovemore Mwandimutsira were first and second runners-up respectively.
Muhammed Shiraan of Mega Market scooped the businessman of the year and was trailed by Tendai Dumbura and Luke Masamvu who were first and second runners-up respectively. In the businesswoman of the year category, Patience Maruni emerged tops while Victoria Jakazi and Judith Shadaya were first and second runners-up respectively.
