Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma Online Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Institute of Management has honoured businesses and individuals from the southern region who, in the past year, have excelled in making their organisations more competitive and innovative.
The awards ceremony was held last week at a local hotel, where businesses were urged to continue striving for more and providing their clientele with quality services.
In the Regional Contribution Award, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) was named overall winner, coming ahead of Inter Africa and King George VI, who took first runner-up and second runner-up positions, respectively.
The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) won the Customer Service Award, with Bulawayo City Council taking position two. Nyaradzo Group and ZB Bank were tied for second runner-up position.
In the Public Sector category, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) took position one, followed by Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in position two and Bulawayo Polytechnic in position three.
Valley Visions Investments (Pvt) Ltd won the Private Sector category, with Hawkflight Construction taking second position.
Outstanding SME was bagged by Isheanopa Group of Companies, with Sylvia Choruwa named Businesswoman of the Year, while NSSA bagged their second award of the night as winners in the Training and Human Resources category.
Sithatshiwe Khumalo won the Young Leader of the Year Award, followed by Walter Mutero and Munashe Ashley Musukutwa in second and third positions, respectively.
The Businessman of the Year ultimate prize was won by Munesushe Munodawafa, while George Kudya and Leonard Mukumba were named first and second runner-up, respectively.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, guest of honour and businessman Mr Clemence Kunzekweguta said businesses should have strategic agility.
“In such contexts, traditional strategic planning—based on stability and predictability—falls short. What is needed is strategic agility, and that is precisely what dynamic capabilities offer.
“A 2021 study by Agnes Ngandu at the University of Pretoria examined manufacturing firms in Zimbabwe and found that firms that developed high-order dynamic capabilities—such as knowledge management and evolutionary fitness—were more resilient and sustainable in the face of macroeconomic instability. Let me bring this closer to home with a few illustrative examples.
“Sensing with focus, a Bulawayo-based textile firm, facing declining domestic demand, used informal networks and diaspora insights to identify niche export markets in Southern Africa.
“By sensing shifts in regional demand, they repositioned their product line. Another example is a local agribusiness which leveraged mobile technology to bypass traditional distribution channels, reaching customers directly and reducing transaction costs. This was not just innovation—it was strategic seizing of opportunity amid infrastructural constraints,” said Mr Kunzekweguta.
“In fact, dynamic capabilities are increasingly seen as a source of competitive advantage in emerging markets—not despite the challenges, but because of challenges. Thus, challenges are actually a window to opportunity,” he said.
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