Mashonaland Region Businesspersons Glory In ZNCC Awards

By Shingirai Vambe

An old adage that say “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” proves to be right considering what has taken place in Mashonaland. Some businesspersons were awarded after weathering the storm and excelling in various sectors despite the environment not being perfect. They have proved that business still need to strive no matter what. Despite the challenges, some of those awarded have gone an extra mile to assist their communities, the Post can report.

Friday night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Harare, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) held the 2022 awards and dinner where the chamber president, Mike Kamungeremu said despite the challenges; business must and should not stop but rather have success stories of business growth especially in the private sector.

“Keep improving; keep innovating, whatever even the most perfect of environments they have got business that failed, we have learnt of banks that have failed in Silicon Valley. Success stories are always there regardless of the environment which has been described and volatile,” said Kamungeremu.

The president said that he was happy with those who walked away with accolades, as the chamber thrive to improve the business environment, commerce, and the key mandate being that of promoting economic growth which he pointed, the private sector led growth.

Mashonaland region vice president, Josephine Takundwa told Post on Sunday newspaper that she appreciates efforts by authorities to improve the business environment, and further call on the authorities to do all they can to provide optimum support and a conducive environment that allows for business to maximize its contribution to the economy.

“Section 13 1(b)(c) of the constitution clearly states that, the State and all institutions and agencies of government must take measures to foster agricultural, commercial, industrial, technological and scientific development and foster the development of industrial and commercial enterprises in order to empower Zimbabwean citizens,” said Takundwa.

She further stated that it is in this spirit that they urge authorities to foster the full implementation of existing policies such as the Zimbabwe Industrialization Development Policy, Local Content Strategy, the Zimbabwe National Trade Policy and Export Promotion Strategy and others to the spirit and latter.

Zimbabwe has been held by policy inconsistencies across the divide, and the business environment has been hanging on a thread for fear of investing in full throttle as a result of lack of confidence in existing monetary policies, statutory instruments and corruption.

Guest of Honour at the event, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Sekai Nzenza, there represented by her deputy, Raj Modi, said it was noticeable that global inflation is on the rise due to pandemics and conflict-related supply chain disruptions and firming energy prices, thus inflationary pressures in developing countries are expected to persist on account of elevated food prices lagged effects of higher oil prices due to supply chain as a result of global conflicts.

“As you may be aware, just a forty-night ago, my ministry had a stakeholder engagement with the private sector representatives such as the ZNCC, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) and the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) among others to find long-lasting solutions to the challenge of macroeconomic instability,” Nzenza said.

She however supported the recent move by the Ministry Of Finance and Economic Development to restore macroeconomic stability, preserve value and restore confidence. She said these were necessary steps towards restoring discipline and financial prudence in the economy and stabilize the exchange are and prices of goods and services which we should all support.

The event came at a time when the chamber had an engagement with the Comesa Business Council (CBC) and the African Trade Observatory (ATO) in support of the new lines being opened by the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) established in 2018 with 43 parties and 11 signatories to promote and create one African business market.

The workshop had women in various business entrepreneurship and supported by stakeholders such as the ministry of woman affairs, Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) to mention just a few.

The ZIDA said for SMEs to reach their fullest potential; they needed to collectively enhance their knowledge and access to relevant business information. Market intelligence, which comprise of gathering and analyzing information relevant to a company’s market will make our small businesses more effective in the market and enhance competition, which will also grow their contribution to the GDP.

The bilateral regional and international trading blocks, provide for Zimbabwean businesses to tap into the export markets with ultimate goal of improving Zimbabwe’s competitiveness on the international market. The trading blocs include SADC, COMESA and the AFCFTA among others.

Winner for the financial institution supporting SMEs, NEDBANK ZIMBABWE LTD was recognized for playing a strategic role in the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of women in the mainstream economy. The bank offers a wide range of products and services aimed at serving the needs of SME customers, ensuring easy access to banking solutions as well as access through digital platforms.

The awards and dinner event saw the most improved exporter in the tobacco industry, Chevron Leaf Tobacco. Zimbabwe Spinners and Weavers Limited, walked away with the most improved exporter in manufacturing prize while Seed-Co, got an Exporter award in the Agricultural sector.

Businessman of the year 2022 award was Tapiwa Mashamhanda, director and shareholder of Mashwede Holdings while Daisy Chavundura of BOOTIES Pharmacies walked away with the businesswoman of the year award.

The event was sponsored by CABS, Zimbabwe Manpower Development, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), N. Richards and Tongaat Hulett’s.