ZNCC Matabeleland annual business awards on

Peter Matika, Senior Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce will this Friday hold its annual business awards, with this year’s event running under the theme Consolidating The New Normal Economy Through Policy Reforms.

The ceremony is scheduled to be held at Rainbow Hotel in Bulawayo on 9 June.

In an interview ZNCC regional manager Mr Mduduzi Ncube said preparations for the event were in order.

“Generally the economy in Matabeleland is performing radically slow due to liquidity crunch that is affecting business operations and now fostering companies to down-scale and introduce cost cutting measures for survival,” said Mr Ncube commending the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which on behalf of Government is also working towards identifying investment partners and creation of synergies with the outside markets.

Mr Ncube said despite a slow performance in business, there were a number of companies, which have managed to remain afloat.

“ . . . and as a Chamber we believe this business practice needs to be recognised and celebrated. The purpose of these Business Awards is to honour and recognise remarkable and noteworthy business performance practised in the previous calendar year. These Awards are aimed at fostering a competitive culture within industry. A culture founded on good workmanship, with prospects of ultimately translating to improved product and service delivery, thereby heightening the spirit of excellence in mundane business practice,” said Mr Ncube.

He added that as a nation, we should strive perennially to grow from strength to strength with regards to the aggregate economic outlook.

“The Chamber has invited a management consultant, business development strategist, and organisational coach, the chief executive officer of the CEED Group (South Africa). As a business strategist he has been actively involved with arranging top level cross boarder investments and joint venture projects. Notably among these are the entry of, and operation in Nigeria of large organisations like MTN and Aviria.kom. Alongside Dr Immanuel will be the Country Manager for DHL International (Zimbabwe) Mr Jeff Phiri who will shed more light on consolidating the current economy through strategic transformation. The business community is therefore invited to congregate, network, recognise and celebrate noteworthy business achievements for the 2016 calendar year,” he said.

Close to 18 award categories will be recognised on the night, and these include:-

Businessman of the Year

Businesswoman of the Year

Entrepreneur of the Year

ICT Company of the Year

Investor of the Year in Matabeleland Region

Outstanding Public Enterprise of the Year

Enterprise Development Support Award

Exporters from All Sectors

Manager of the Year

Constructor of the Year

SME of the year