The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Business Correspondent
YOUTHFUL and ambitious businesspeople and personalities in Mutare dominated this year’s Megafest Eastern Region business awards held last Friday at a local hotel with more than 10 scooping top awards.
Thirty-year-old Lloyd Mapunga, who is the Twin Towers Properties director, scooped the Entrepreneur of the Year platinum award while Holiday Inn general manager Charlton Chimbira (36) walked away with the Young and Promising Executive of the Year platinum award.
Charlton Chimbira shows off his award
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Eastern Region manageress Ropafadzo Dunira scooped the Female Executive of the Year gold award while Kwayedza Lodge director William Chatigu walked away with the Disruptive Organisation of the Year silver award.
In interviews, the winners said the awards would motivate them to work even harder.
“I feel excited to be honoured with such a prestigious award. It is encouraging and I feel motivated to work harder. It has not been an easy road but I am glad that I am in the right direction and determined to achieve more.
“I would like to thank God, my clients as well as Twin Towers dedicated staff for achieving this feat,” said Mapunga.
Chimbira, who has taken Holiday Inn to dizzy heights said: “It is a case of mixed feelings, stretching from surprise, elation and then the gratitude to the broader market and environment.
“I feel very honoured when all stakeholders take this stance to nominate and acknowledge me as part of elite group of brand representatives of our generation. It is quite motivating.”
Dunira said: “It is so inspiring and motivating to receive such a special recognition. Special thanks to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority for giving me the opportunity to lead the tourism industry in the Eastern Region and to Megafest Holdings for recognising our work.
“This is a result of great teamwork and support from the tourism industry and the business community.”
Parshon Muranganwa, who won the Business Personality of the Year platinum award said: “It’s an honour and pleasure to receive such recognition. I will always cherish it.
“I thank God and I am very excited. I would also like to thank Econet since this is a collective effort.”
Megafest chief executive officer Dr Tafadzwa Matsika said he was excited by the perseverance and resilience done by corporates and individuals in Manicaland.
“The market for Manicaland is now more receptive and quite a number of individuals and corporates have improved albeit in a very difficult situation economic wise.
“The perseverance and resilience is what we are quite excited about.
“This region (Eastern) has got great potential. I have always said the hub of tourism is in this region.
“Many players in this region like Willowton, Mega Market are doing amazingly well.
“There is a lot of hope within this region. We are just hoping that by next year same time there will be much hope despite a knock caused by Cyclone Idai last year,” he said.
Other winners were Econet Wireless, which walked away with the Best Social Investment Platinum Award.
In the Tourism and Hospitality Initiative category, Holiday Inn scooped the platinum award.
Mega Market scooped the Customer Focused Platinum Award while Kitchen Link and Africa University scooped platinum awards in the Disruptive Organisation of the Year category.
Tinmac Motors walked away with the Platinum Award of Excellence of the Year while Wattle Company won the Company of the Year platinum award.
Moses Mukoyi of Milestone Groups of School walked away with the Educational Leader of the Year platinum award while Professor Albert Chawanda of Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences scooped the Public Sector Leader of the Year platinum award.
Vernon Dhliwayo of Utande scooped the Manager of the Year platinum award while Mutare Bottling Company’s David Kanengoni was awarded with the CEO of the Year platinum award.
Dr Tsitsi Molly Mupfunya of Milestone Group of Schools won the Businesswoman of the Year platinum award while Mega Market’s Muhammed Shiraan Ahmed walked away with the Businessman of the Year platinum award.
