ZIMBABWEAN individuals and companies who have excelled in South Africa will be honoured at the first ever Cape Town-Zimbabwean Excellence Gala Dinner Awards event in the country’s south-western coastal city next month.
The red carpet event, to be held on April 4, seeks to recognise and acknowledge individuals and companies flying the Zimbabwean flag high in Cape Town.
The event will be held at The Marimba Restaurant at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Ex-Big Brother Africa star Pokello Nare, who is also a businesswoman in her own right, would be the host.
Julius Shamu, who is the director of Cape Town-Zimbabwe Excellence Awards, said the awards seek to honour and motivate Zimbabweans doing well in South Africa despite challenges they are facing.
The inaugural awards would however only feature a small section of up and coming Zimbabweans largely based in Cape Town, not the big shots in top corporate positions and other influential spheres of life.
“Despite some challenges faced in South Africa, Zimbabweans have managed to not only demonstrate resilience but achieve success in their selected undertakings and ventures. The Cape Town awards seek to honour those individuals who have played positive roles within the city of Cape Town and the Western Cape,” Shamu said.
“This acknowledgement will encourage them to continue with a culture of success as they remain an inspiration to their fellow compatriots and the community of Cape Town at large. The awards also provide an excellent opportunity for networking with the community of Cape Town.”
Some of the categories that will be awarded include Sports Personality of the Year award, Journalist of the Year Award, Entertainment Personality of the Year, Business Organisation of the Year Award and the Overall Zimbabwe Excellence Award.
The Overall Zimbabwe Excellence Award is sponsored by Mukuru Money Transfer.
Sponsors of the awards include Cutting Edge Tents, Moonlight Funeral Services, Impress Clothing, Dreamworld Promotions, Uhuru Institute of Management Training and Mukuru Money Transfer.
Shamu said the award winners would not be chosen through a voting system, but by an esteemed panel of judges.
“There will not be a voting system but our highly esteemed judges will determine the winner according to the criteria.” Shamu said “The voting system has its own challenges, which include making the awards a popularity contest without the people understanding the concept of the projects.”
The following are the nominees:
Sports Personality of the Year
Tinashe Chaterera
Osmond Matunde
Himan Kurima
Kudakwashe Takawira
News Leader/Journalist of the Year
Frank Mushakavanhu
Patient Gomba
Weston Hussein
Entertainment Personality of the Year
Bezel Tinashe Mbofana
Albert Zanganembo
Witness Morgan Chasara
Tinashe Vushe
Community Leader of the Year
Patient Gomba
Edmore Mazungunye
Tinotenda Daniel Muzofa
Farai Muzika
Small Business of the Year
Ethel Chipo Mukuku (Ethelic Boutique)
Davison Munyuki (Divine Robes)
Weston Hussein (Wasilla Projects)
Cryson Nhamoyebonde (You drink we drive)
Business Person of the Year
Prince Bolo Sithole (Cutting Edge Tents)
Bright Chimutashu (Dharican International)
Godfrey Madanhire (Dreamworld Promotions)
Moreboys Munetsi (Zororo Pumlani)
Business Organisation of the Year
Bright Chimutashu (Dharican International)
Moreboys Munetsi (Zororo Pumlani Funeral Services)
Godfrey Madanhire (Dreamworld Promotions)
Prince Bolo Sithole (Cutting Edge Tents)
Zimbabwe Excellence Award
Godfrey Madanhire
Bright Chimutashu
Prince Bolo Sithole
Tapfuma Makina
Joel Guy Chabata
Shamie Afri Kalcha
Weston Hussein
Albert Zanganembo