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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
The owner of King Solomon Hotel in Kwekwe, Mr Solomon Matsa, last Friday won the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Midlands Provincial Annual Business Awards at a ceremony in Gweru. The first runner up in the businessperson of the year category went to Dr Gerald Zhou of Inclusive Financial Services.

Mrs Memory Mugadza who has pharmacies in Gweru and Zvishavane, won the businesswoman of the year while Mrs Shashore Ketina who has IT companies come in second.

Mr Kudzai Nyika of Pote Holdings won the manager of the year award with Mr Temba Ngwena of Zetdc coming second.
Zimasco came first in the ferro alloy exporters category with African Chrome fields being crowned first runner up and Natuyos Investments being second runner up.

In the precious minerals category, Mimosa Mines came out tops while Unki Mines and Murowa Diamonds were in second and third positions respectively.

Innovation award went to Kwekwe Polytechnic and Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) supporting bank award went to Inclusive Financial Services.

Mr Matsa said he was overwhelmed by the award adding the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra was the right direction for the country to move on.

“We are with the President (Mnangagwa), we are with the leadership and we think the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra is the one that was missing in the past 37 years. The country needs business to get somewhere and it’s only the Zimbabweans who can rally behind President Mnangagwa to drive the country into prosperity,” he said.

Mr Matsa who has interests in the tourism and hospitality industry and property development among other business interests, said with the new dispensation, the country was on the right track in terms of socio-economic development.

“I feel proud, I feel blessed and I feel honoured by my own people. Its a real big night for me and my family and all Zimbabweans because this is our only place we call home and I will do my best to try my best to make Zimbabwe a better country,” he said.

Dr Zhou said as Inclusive Financial Services, they were happy with the new developments, which are happening in the country and the Government thrust to revive the economy.

“We feel the economy is now even more open for business. We have five branches in Midlands and we are rolling out new products in line with new prospects in the country. Our aim is to make sure we put money, real worth in the hands of the people,” he said.

Dr Zhou said they will continue supporting that SME’s, micro entrepreneurs, the small holder’s farmers under the new dispensation that he said has a thrust in wealth creation for everyone.

Midlands province outgoing ZNCC chairperson Dr Tinashe Manzungu, said this was the time for business to grow under the new dispensation.

Over 17 categories were contested for and these included Exporter of the Year: Best bank supporting small to medium enterprises , Tertiary institute of the Year, Information Communication and Technology Company of the Year, Transport and Logistics Award, Rural Businessperson, Manager of the Year, SME of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year and Public Enterprise of the Year.