Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
Gwanda District recently celebrated the achievements of its outstanding business leaders at the inaugural Gwanda Business Summit and Awards ceremony, organised by Sundrive Coalition.
The event recognised excellence across over 20 categories, including Cake Designer of the Year, Events and Deco Company of the Year, Security Company of the Year, Driving School of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Community Health Champion of the Year, Community Development Champion, Lifetime Achievement and Result-Oriented School of the Year, among others.
Speaking during the event, Gwanda District Development Co-ordinator, Ms Nomathemba Ndlovu, said members of the business community play a crucial role in developing the district’s economy.
She highlighted that all businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are vital for achieving Vision 2030.
“As a district, we need to realise economic growth, which will contribute to the province and the nation’s overall economic development. To achieve this growth, we require a transformative business landscape that aligns with national and regional market demands and standards,” said Ms Ndlovu.
“One of the pillars of the National Development Strategy 1 is economic development. We, therefore, urge the business community to move with us as Government. This shows that as the business community, you have a role in attaining Vision 2030.”
Ms Ndlovu commended the award recipients for maintaining high standards and encouraged other businesses to strive for excellence by learning from those who have already achieved success. She emphasised the need for businesses to grow to ensure the district’s development.
Speaking during the same event, Sundrive Business Summit and Awards chairperson Mr Honesty Innocent Chenjerai, said the event aims to inspire the growth of the business sector in Gwanda, a town with significant potential.
He announced plans to hold the summit and awards annually, urging businesses to leverage this platform to create synergies, identify development opportunities and expand their operations.
“We are here to celebrate excellence and create an ecosystem where businesses can thrive. This platform allows businesses to grow and expand. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate those who excel and motivate upcoming businesses,” said Mr Chenjerai.
“In the future, we plan to organise events that will equip business members with knowledge on how to expand their businesses and access markets. This is just the first edition of these awards for the Gwanda chapter and we plan to hold a bigger event next year.”
Pastor Phathisiwe Dube urged members of the business community to maintain integrity in their operations. She also urged business players to adopt modern trends of marketing such as social media platforms.
Pastor Dube said business players should also ensure that they upgrade their services to meet the needs of clients.
