-Midlands awards next week
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUTARE-Veteran educationist and businessman, Gwinyai Steven Mutsongodza who leads arguably the fastest growing private school in Mutare, First Class Academy was adjudged 2022 Megafest Eastern Region Platinum Businessman of the Year.
Mutsongodza won the coveted Businessman of the Year Award following his sterling work at First Class Academy which has grown in leaps and bounce to become the school of choice in Mutare and Manicaland at large.
The Eastern Region Megafest Business awards were held recently at Golden Peacock Villa Hotel and are meant to recognize and reward the courage, leadership and creativity of the region’s most brilliant business people and organisations that play a critical role in raising the profile of professionals in business, of which Mutsongodza was outstanding in that regard.
First Class Academy, which started in the oldest suburb of Mutare in 2005 has opened a third campus in Fern Valley where Manicaland University of Applied Sciences is located and the academy is set to open a state of the art school.
The academy which is one of the first private schools owned by an indigenous person in Manicaland has been producing some of the best results in the eastern border town ever since it opened its doors and is now the most sought after learning institutions in the province.
This has been possible through the able leadership of veteran educationist, disciplinarian and businessman, Mutsongodza who also teaches at the academy.
“I would like to pay tribute to all our stakeholders who have made this possible and most notably my wife who is always very supportive and by my side,” said the soft spoken educationist as he received the award.
Blessing Mangwiro of Big Rock Logistics was on second position as he scooped Gold in the Businessman of the Year award.
Aretha Marume of Chitova Investments won silver in the Businesswoman of the Year category while fast growing Jack and Jill Preschool owner, Orpah Chikoka scooped Gold in the same category.
Milestone Group of Schools’ Tsitsi Mupfunya won the Woman of Excellence Award while Dr Susan Mapara of Murambi East Villa and Spa begged Businesswoman of the Year Platinum award.
In the CEO of the Year category, Younus Majee of Mutare Computers won silver, John Mugwagwa of Manica Skyview Hotel won Gold and Platinum went to Mutare City Council’s Kapuya Chafesuka.
Shingairayi Moyo of Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences scooped Platinum in the Director of the Year category followed by Albert Kuwaza of Costimbers and Sebastian Mukuchura of Princeton Institute, both on Gold and the silver award went to Enoch Maraire of Billionaire Empire.
Bishop Eric Ruwona of the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland scooped Bronze in the Strategic Leader of the Year category in recognition of tireless efforts in bringing peace in the church which was torn through the middle due to serious factionalism caused by the ascendency of then Arch-Bishop Nobert Kunonga several years ago.
MSUAS Vice Chancellor, Professor Albert Chawanda was adjudged Strategic Leader of the Year Gold medalist while Associated Foods’ Joseph Mavu landed Silver in the same category on the night.
Mercy Katerere of Delvinbrit Home Designs was awarded the Most Enterprising Woman of the Year with a Platinum plaque.
The Entrepreneur of the Year was Patience Mutyamaenza of Enopat Hotel who walked away with a Platinum award followed by Innocent Mozeka and Matyorwenyu Chinomwaamba of Royal Vacations Travel and Traders Wholesale respectively on Gold, while Tinashe Chakonza of Prowess Technology won silver.
The Manager of the Year was Raymond Mavhumashava of Troutbeck Resort who scooped Platinum followed by Benard Chimanga of Manica Skyview Hotel and Adonis Mutigwe of Golden Peacock Hotel, both on Gold with Holiday Inn’s Archiford Mutudza on Silver.
Ropafadzo Dunhira of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority was the Female Executive of the Year on Platinum followed by Mercy Charamba of Zimbabwe Insurance Brokers and Spindiwe Mazo of Manica Post both on Gold and on third position was Patience Maruni.
Fanisen Shuwa of Rusape Town Council was the Eastern Region Megafest Local Authority Leader of 2022 with Platinum followed by Chipinge Rural District Council’s Blessing Mamvosha and Mutasa Rural District Council’s G.T. Bandure both on Gold while Dr Emily Chibvongodze of Buhera Rural District Council was on third position.
Megafest Eastern Region Young Executive for 2022 was Onai Ndhlovu of Guardian Security followed by Richsky Foods’ Richard Zengeni and Dr Farai Chigora of Africa University winning silver.
The Company of the Year gong was tightly contested and was won by Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company with Silkwood Manufacturing and Border Timbers tied on second and The Big Rock Logistics winning silver.
Associated Foods was adjudged the Megafest Eastern Region Manufacturer of the Year at the annual business awards.
Zimpapers subsidiary, Manica Post won Platinum in the Professional Service Award of the Year followed by Visitor Information Centre Manicaland, Diamond FM, Zimbabwe Insurance Brokers, TV Sales and Home and Utande.
Under Good Corporate Governance category, Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund came first followed by Mutare City Council and on silver was Rusape Town Council.
Premier Eastern Region resort company, Troutbeck Resort was the Customer Focus award winner for 2022 followed by Moonlight Funeral Services.
Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) owned Holiday Inn Mutare came out first in the Service Excellence of the Year award followed by Chinese owned Golden Peacock Villa Hotel.
Life assurer owned by Econet Holdings was adjudged the Innovative Organisation of the Year followed by TelOne and Verify Engineering on gold and on silver was Germany headquartered courier service provider, DHL.
Responsible Organisation of 2022 was Plan International followed by Green Fuel and Ecocash Holdings on gold and on third position was Nash Paints.
Government owned pension fund, National Social Security Authority came out tops in the Megafest Social Investment category for 2022.
One of the oldest security companies in the country, Safeguard Security topped the Security Innovation and Responsiveness of the Year Category followed by Guard Alert on Gold and on third position was Guardian Security.
Newly established Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences went away the Tertiary Institution of the Year winner followed by Mutare Teachers’ College and on silver was Riverside College.
Meanwhile the Midlands Region is the next port of call for Megafest and the awards ceremony is penciled for March 24 at a venue to be announced in due course, Vuyolethu Moyo the organisation’s public relations manager personal assistant to the chief executive officer, Mercy Matsika confirmed to The Midweek Watch.
Moyo added that after the Midlands the next stop is Masvingo Region awards on March 31 for those who exceled in 2022.
