The Sunday News
PROMINENT Gweru businesswoman, Mrs Smelly Dube on Friday scooped the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Midlands businesswoman of the year for the fourth successive time at a colourful ceremony held at a local hotel.
Mrs Dube, the owner of River Valley properties, who owns a consortium of properties across the country, has developed more than 10 000 stands and built houses for the poor in many cities.
She also scooped the philanthropy accolade after she constructed a house for a blind elderly woman in Woodlands.
Receiving the award Mrs Dube said she felt honoured and appreciated for the work that she had done in uplifting the face of the sleepy city of Gweru.
“I am humbled by this award. I would like to express gratitude to my husband, family and colleagues from River Valley Properties for the support and loyalty that they have shown. This is not my award but it is the accolade that has been won by the River Valley Properties family.
I therefore call upon all women in the province to come forth and take up the challenge. I feel that in any empowerment drive, women should take a leading role and should also be granted equal opportunities to men. This award is also for every woman in business,” she said.
In the male category, Zvishavane businessman, Mr Clever Pote scooped the Midlands businessman of the year award.
Mr Pote owns a consortium of supermarkets and hardware shops in Zvishavane and has in the past few years ventured into the transport business, construction and tourism and hospitality.
Receiving the award on his behalf was his general manager Mr Mtombeni who could not hide his joy as he danced to the music and attributed the company’s success to hard work and commitment.
“This is only the beginning. We hope that we are going to scoop more awards of this nature in the coming years,” he said.
Unki Mine general manager, Mr Walter Nemasase was awarded the Midlands manager of the year gong while FBC Gweru Branch manager Mrs Stella Phiri scooped a similar award in the women’s category.
However, the major surprise of the night was when defunct ferrochrome producers, Zimbabwe Alloys Limited (ZimAlloys) was named the best exporter of the year ahead of Unki and Mimosa Mine among other mines and manufacturing companies.
ZimAlloys ceased operations a few years ago.
