Zimbabwe’s top entrepreneurs to be honoured at prestigious awards

Judith Phiri, Business Reporter

ENTREPRENEURS from various disciplines in the country are set to be recognised and awarded for their success stories that positively transform communities at the Entrepreneurship and Business Conference Dinner and Awards in Bulawayo.

The event slated for Saturday 16 November and to be graced by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu as guest of honour is being hosted by the Youth Network Connect and their Entrepreneurs Corner.

It will run under the theme: “Building Inclusive Local Sustainable Investment Opportunities through Entrepreneurship.”

In an interview, Youth Network Connect managing director, Mr Philimon Nyirenda said the event sought to celebrate illustrious years of them growing together with the entrepreneurship community, not just in Bulawayo, but also expanding their reach to all the provinces in the country.

“By honouring and awarding these entrepreneurs, we seek to celebrate unity, success and opportunities that they have created in the work that they are doing in various communities as they co-create progress and prosperity across borders,” he said.

“Together, we honour the spirit of regional collaboration, fostering stronger trade relations, and empowering entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.”

He said a number of entrepreneurs, small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and individuals in the country were committed to professional or personal endeavours that have led to many outstanding achievements.

Mr Nyirenda said the achievements have significantly advanced various fields of competence as wells as the progress and welfare of the communities.

“In line with the purpose and vision of the Government, especially the Ministries of Industry and Commerce and Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development together with the Youth Network Connect, the goal is to give Zimbabwean entrepreneurs a venue to celebrate their growth as a world-class entrepreneurial nation that is affluent,” he added.

He said their concentrated efforts to bridge the gap for entrepreneurs with companies serve as an instrument to promote healthy competition and positive collaboration that pushes these companies forward.

Mr Nyirenda said they believe in setting stringent standards of quality and empowerment in alignment with their mission to spur growth by nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit.

“There is need to enable entrepreneurial businesses to express their creativity as leading change, while also inspiring business owners to pursue their interests, take chances, create, organise and manage market-driven, customer-centric companies that survive in a continuously changing and competitive global economy,” he said.

He said they were also working towards enabling the brightest pioneers, innovators, leaders and inventors to realise their aspirations of making Zimbabwe, especially Bulawayo the next entrepreneur hub in Africa.

Key dignitaries to grace the event are Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company chief executive officer (CEO), Dr Nicholas Ndebele, ZB Financial Holdings (ZBFH) Innovation executive head, Mr Patrick Maseko, Sojama Economic Development Institute president, Dr Khumbulani Mhlophe.

Among them also being Business Development Specialist, Dr Nothando Moyo and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) Orthopaedic and Traumalogy Surgeon- trainee, Dr Siduduzo Mphoko.

Heliconvest Investments chief commercial director, Mr Gordon Tam, Concord Young Women in Business Global founder, Ms Apphia Musavengana and Equity Investor, Wealth Strategist and Hedge Fund manager, Mr Kelvin Mazhandu are also among some of the key speakers.