News / Local
Matabeleland firms shine at ZNCC awards
01 Jun 2025 at 14:57hrs | Views
Mr. Hafiz Muhammad Naeem of Evergold was the star of the evening on Friday as he took home the Overall Winner and Businessman of the Year awards at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) 2025 Matabeleland Annual Business Awards (MABAs). This achievement builds on his success from last year's ceremony, where he won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
The awards, held at a local hotel in Bulawayo under the theme "Unlocking Business Potential through Policy, Partnerships, and Productivity," recognized over 42 companies and 18 businesspeople from the Matabeleland region for their exceptional contributions to economic growth in 2024. Winners in 20 different categories received certificates and shields in acknowledgment of their achievements.
Mr. Naeem's win highlighted the remarkable progress of Evergold, an agricultural-based food processing and manufacturing company operating as Flynote Investments Private Limited. Established in 2013, Evergold produces a wide range of high-quality products including roller meal, flour, rice, biscuits, sugar, animal feed, and maize grits. The company has become known for its state-of-the-art facilities and its ability to meet the growing demands of customers.
Speaking after receiving the awards, Mr. Naeem expressed his excitement and pride in the company's achievements. He emphasized the importance of organic food and credited the recognition to the dedication of his entire team. "I am extremely happy about the products that we produce, and we believe that eating well begins with choosing organic food. I would like to thank ZNCC for the recognition as this is a testament to the hard work that we have put in as a company and also grateful to the Evergold team," he said.
The Businesswoman of the Year award was claimed by Ms. Bertha Mutowe of Zebra Hilltop Lodge in Beitbridge. In her acceptance speech, Ms. Mutowe gave thanks to God, her supportive husband, and her children. She also acknowledged her hardworking team, noting the personal sacrifices she made to grow the business.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Ingwebu, Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR), and the National Railways of Zimbabwe, recognizing their longstanding contributions. Meiton Banda of Fawcett was named Manager of the Year, while Slice Pizzeria took the MSME of the Year award. Simbarashe Mugabe of FMG Wholesale was recognized as Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Other honorees included Tendai Chiwe of Rome Holdings as Rural Businessperson of the Year and Dzingai Chirume of DC Five Star Company as Entrepreneur of the Year. Awards for innovation, customer service, financial institution support, and public enterprise also featured prominently, celebrating organizations like The Organic Biochemist, the Department of Immigration of Zimbabwe, ZB Holdings, and the City of Bulawayo. Lupane State University was recognized as Tertiary Institution of the Year, and Injanji Investments received the SDG of the Year award.
The MABAs once again showcased the vibrant business environment in Matabeleland, highlighting the region's vital role in Zimbabwe's economic development and the commitment of its business leaders to innovation and growth.
The awards, held at a local hotel in Bulawayo under the theme "Unlocking Business Potential through Policy, Partnerships, and Productivity," recognized over 42 companies and 18 businesspeople from the Matabeleland region for their exceptional contributions to economic growth in 2024. Winners in 20 different categories received certificates and shields in acknowledgment of their achievements.
Mr. Naeem's win highlighted the remarkable progress of Evergold, an agricultural-based food processing and manufacturing company operating as Flynote Investments Private Limited. Established in 2013, Evergold produces a wide range of high-quality products including roller meal, flour, rice, biscuits, sugar, animal feed, and maize grits. The company has become known for its state-of-the-art facilities and its ability to meet the growing demands of customers.
Speaking after receiving the awards, Mr. Naeem expressed his excitement and pride in the company's achievements. He emphasized the importance of organic food and credited the recognition to the dedication of his entire team. "I am extremely happy about the products that we produce, and we believe that eating well begins with choosing organic food. I would like to thank ZNCC for the recognition as this is a testament to the hard work that we have put in as a company and also grateful to the Evergold team," he said.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Ingwebu, Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR), and the National Railways of Zimbabwe, recognizing their longstanding contributions. Meiton Banda of Fawcett was named Manager of the Year, while Slice Pizzeria took the MSME of the Year award. Simbarashe Mugabe of FMG Wholesale was recognized as Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Other honorees included Tendai Chiwe of Rome Holdings as Rural Businessperson of the Year and Dzingai Chirume of DC Five Star Company as Entrepreneur of the Year. Awards for innovation, customer service, financial institution support, and public enterprise also featured prominently, celebrating organizations like The Organic Biochemist, the Department of Immigration of Zimbabwe, ZB Holdings, and the City of Bulawayo. Lupane State University was recognized as Tertiary Institution of the Year, and Injanji Investments received the SDG of the Year award.
The MABAs once again showcased the vibrant business environment in Matabeleland, highlighting the region's vital role in Zimbabwe's economic development and the commitment of its business leaders to innovation and growth.
Source - zimpapers
