Tendai Muererwa
MUTARE – In a dazzling celebration of ingenuity, grit and industrial excellence, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Eastern Region Business Awards lit up the city of Mutare.
The ZNCC Eastern Region awards proved that local enterprises are masterfully charting a bold new path towards global competitiveness.
The night’s top honors went to an exceptional cohort of trailblazers who clinched first place in their respective categories. In the mining sector, Mining Portfolio won Emerging Leader (Male), Susan Dumbura won Emerging Leader (Female), Shadtar Mine took home Excellence in Sustainable Gold Production (Female), Better Brands Holdings secured the Male equivalent, and Maxi Mind Investment Pvt Ltd was named Mining Exporter of the Year.
In trade and infrastructure, Manica Boards & Doors Pvt Ltd won Manufacturing Exporter of the Year, Eastern Highlands Plantation Limited took Agriculture Exporter of the Year, Tingamira Oil Company was named Best Emerging Exporter, Mega Market Pvt Ltd topped the Road Freight Sector, and Murare Car Rental won the Car Rental Award. Taguta Stone Crushers was named Best Emerging Business, while NSSA won the Workplace Wellness & Safety Award.
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Individual leadership and enterprise were highly celebrated, with Gwinyai Mutsongodza crowned Businessman of the Year and Patience Puwai named Businesswoman of the Year. The Business Leader of the Year titles saw joint wins, with Moses Mwagura and Dr. Joseph Sanhanga sharing the male category, and Maggie Mwadiwa alongside Maria Chitemere taking the female category. Laston Murerwa won Entrepreneur of the Year, Tapiwa Sigauke took the Young Entrepreneur Award, Garikai Gwenzi was named Rural Businessperson of the Year, and Hopewell Muzaeni received the Outstanding SME Award. LP Masamvu Wholesale and Retail won the Family Business Award, Nomsa Chiadzwa-Chave secured the Business Resilience Award, and Commissioner Spectosomusa Chinobva was honored with the Correctional Business Leadership Award.
​In telecommunications and community impact, Engineer Raphel Mushanawani won the Telecommunications Leadership Award, while Netone Zimbabwe took the Telecommunications Excellence Award for Resilience.
On the community front, Chipinge Town Council won the Urban Community Impact Award, and Chipinge RDC secured the Rural equivalent. Education and mentorship categories saw Africa University win the Innovation Award, Mutare Polytechnic College take the Tertiary Institution Award, and Magamba Vocational Training win for Mentorship & Entrepreneurial Guidance.
In school categories, Gutika Group of Schools won for High School, Kids Cave Junior School for Junior School, and Early Port Preparatory School for ECD.
The night concluded with special distinctions, recognizing Mabvuku Tafara MP Scott Sakupwanya for the Mining, Sports and Economic Empowerment Award, Alexander Christodoulatos with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and ZB Bank, Stanbic Bank, AFC Commercial Bank, and CBZ Bank all being honored as winning Financial Institutions Supporting MSMEs.
The prestigious event, held under the powerful theme “From Resilience to Competitiveness: Charting a New Path for Sustainable Industrial Growth,” brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and development partners from Manicaland Province and Chiredzi to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of individuals and corporations driving Zimbabwe’s economic transformation.
​Speaking at the ceremony, Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, commended the unstoppable growth of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector.
He reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to dismantling economic barriers, unlocking affordable financing, and expanding market access to ensure local entrepreneurs anchor the nation’s devolution goals. Echoing these sentiments, the Guest of Honor, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Engineer Polite Kambamura, highlighted that the industrial transformation sweeping through Manicaland is clear evidence of a province on a confident, upward trajectory.
​Amid the celebration, a poignant wave of emotion swept through the room as the business community paused to honor the late former ZNCC Eastern Region and Chiredzi Manager, Perpetual Guwila.
Widely revered for her relentless dedication to advancing business interests in the region, her enduring legacy was immortalized through the inaugural Silver Jubilee Dedication to Service Award, fittingly awarded to her posthumously to a standing ovation.
ZNCC Eastern Region Administrator Nesta Nyambo noted that celebrating these triumphs does more than honor past achievements—it inspires future excellence, motivating organizations to continuously invest, create sustainable jobs, and shape a prosperous future for Zimbabwe.
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