Allied Security owner scoops Businessman of the Year award

Bruce Ndlovu , Business Reporter
JUST over a year after establishing Allied Security, Bulawayo businessman, Mr Bekezela Moyo, who also owns Carrymine Complex in the city’s Douglasdale suburb, is the toast of the business world after he scooped the Businessman of the Year award at the recently held Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) regional awards.

More than 40 companies and 16 businesspersons from the Matabeleland region scooped prizes at the annual regional awards ceremony. The awards were meant to honour businesses and individuals for their outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the economy in 2022. There were prizes for the 20 different categories and winners walked away with certificates and shields.

Mr Moyo’s win signalled a triumphant period for the businessman, who established Allied Security with the intention of providing more economical security services to some of his other business interests. What began as a venture meant to protect his interests in the mining sector has now suddenly developed into one of the city’s burgeoning security businesses, whose services are much sought-after by those in business at a time when cases of armed robbery are on the rise.

The security company covers gold mines and lithium mines, while it now also covers a substantive part of the Bulawayo Central Business District (CBD). While its services cover 16 premises in Bulawayo’s CBD, it has now managed to stretch its wings to other parts of the country, providing security to Good Days Mine in Mutoko, Feather Mine in Filabusi and Magara Mine in Gwanda. In an interview with Sunday News Business, Mr Moyo said while he was honoured by the award, it only spurred him to work even harder.

“I am proud of the strides that we have made over the past year and this award is particularly pleasing because this is recognition from industry peers. It also feels like just vindication for all the barriers we have tried to break over the last few years as we try to grow our businesses. However, it is also a nice motivation for us to continue working harder in the future because as young businesspeople we plan to emulate some of the people that have won this award and went on to even greater things,” he said.

Mr Moyo said Allied Security was the new crown jewel in his business empire, as he intended to use it to improve standards in the security sector while improving levels in the city and beyond.

“We have always stated that we want to employ enough people to feed 1 000 families by the end of this year and we are on course to achieve that. We are taking the sector to a new level, and that means the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment, weaponry and the best in human resources. There is a lot of room for growth in the sector because a lot of people are clamouring for companies that guarantee greater security for their assets and so far, our record has been impeccable in that regard,” he said.

Mr Moyo, who is a member of the Economic Empowerment Group, said corporate social responsibility was one of his driving passions, after taking part in various anti-drug campaigns around the city. During the same award ceremony, the lifetime achievement award was scooped by Jasbro, Hassamals and Jairos Jiri Association.

The Public Entrepreneurship of the Year award went to TelOne with Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) being the first runner-up and Zimbabwe National Road Administration and Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe being second runner-ups.

The National University of Science and Technology (Nust), Lupane State University (LSU) and Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic College won the Tertiary Institutions of the Year accolades. Winners in the Businesswoman of the Year category were Quinn Sowa of Rugare Medical and the runners-up were Dr Annah Muleya of Lanaheil Investments and Victoria Gazi of Samson Bricks.