ELLEN MLAMBO
TWO NATIONS REPORTER

BEITBRIDGE – Zimborders Consortium Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Francois Diedrechsen who was the guest of honour at the Beitbridge Business Expo (BBE) Corporate and People’s Choice Awards has pledged to support BBE in the construction of a new showground planned for the border town.
Diedrechsen was at the awards event at a local lodge on Saturday where 110 Beitbridge businesses were recognised for their outstanding work at the BBE.
BBE recently got a piece of land on which it plans to establish the town’s first showground. The showground should come on stream this year. Diedrechsen’s company has done several other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in the town.
Some CSR projects completed by Zimborders include a new fire station, 11, 4 million litre water tank, a staff village, upgraded sewer system and one stop shop point plant and quarantine centre.
The awards were divided into 35 categories and nine categories were under public voting, 24 under adjudicators’ voting and two were decided by the BBE Committee.
BBE chairperson and Lanaheil Investments director, Dr Anna Muleya said the awards help the business community promote professionalism and foster a competitive culture among producers and service providers in the border town.
The proceeds of the awards will go towards the development of the Showground. She asked companies to partner and contribute towards the project.

List of the Awards Winners
PUBLIC VOTING
•Event of the Year
THE BEITBRIDGE BUSINESS EXPO
MAYOR’S HALF MARATHON
NEW YEAR’S EVE NATTY O SHOW

2.Fast Food Outlet of the year
CROC FOODS
SIMBISA BRANDS – CHICKEN INN
THE GRILL SQUARE

3.Medical facility of the year
NORTH HAVEN MEDICAL CENTRE
FORTIQ MEDICAL CENTER
OASIS MEDICAL CENTRE

4.Insurance Company of the year
NYARADZO LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY
ZB INSURANCE
CBZ INSURANCE

5.Bank of the Year
ZB BANK
CBZ BANK
FIRST CAPITAL BANK

6.Telecommunication company of year
ECONET ZIMBABWE
LIQUID INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES
NETONE ZIMBABWE

7.Retailer of the year
BAOBAB SPAR
N RICHARDS
GP STORES

8.Media house of the year
LOTSHA RADIO STATION

9.Beauty Salon of the year
LORRAINE HAIR SALOON
SNIP AND STYLE SALON
MAKHADZI HAIR SALON

ADJUDICATOR’S VOTING
10.Small Business (SME) of the Year
GATSHENI BOER GOATS HERBERT ZHOU
VICKY TRANSPORT
LUTANDA PVT LTD

11.Start-up Business of the Year
BEITBRIDGE PHARMACY
SISTERHOOD GARDENS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION ZIMBABWE

12.Young Entrepreneur of the Year
ZIYAH MEDIA
LT DESIGNS
PHOPHI VISIONS PRODUCTION

13.Community Social Responsibility Company of the Year
This category is not open to businesses or organisations which undertake community activities as a core business.
ZIMBORDERS
SIMBISA BRANDS
BISHOPSTONE

14.Gender equality recognition award ( Zimuto)
BISHOPSTONE
ZIMRA
ZIMBORDERS

15.Public Service department of the year
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SERVICES
AGRITEX
DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS

16.Quasi Government/Parastatal of the Year
ZIMRA
ZINARA

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AGENCY
17.Most innovative company of the year
ZIMBORDERS
ECONET
SIGNTEC AFRICA

18.Accommodation Facility of the Year / Hospitality Operator of the Year
BLUE VILLA
SUMMIT LODGE
MUTSA LODGE

19.Clearing Agency of the Year
•Small Clearing Agent of the year
MIGISI INVESTMENTS T/A DIVINE TOUCH TRADING
HYPERCLASS INVESTMENTS t/a ASANTE SANA FREIGHT SVS
FRONTIER LOGISTICS

20.Big Clearing Agent of the year
RUMSON TRADING
DUEL OF INVESTMENTS P/L T/A FAMS ZIMBABWE
ONLINE LOGISTICS

21.Beitbridge 24/7 organisation /company of the Year
LIQUID FORCE ENERGY
GLOW (Mashakada)
SIMBISA BRANDS

22.Leisure facility of the year
NOTTINGHAM ESTATE RESORTS
SENTINEL
BUBYE VALLEY C0NSERVANCY MALANGANYE RESORT

23.Entertainment lounge of the year
LAVAS LOUNGE
SKIM BEIT
SISTERHOOD GARDENS
•Best Educational Facility of the year
24.Nursery (Preschool) school of the year
WELTON PRE-SCHOOL
OAKLEIGH HOUSE PRE-SCHOOL

25.Primary School of the Year
OAKLEIGH HOUSE PRIMARY SCHOOL
ADRIEL PRIMARY SCHOOL

26.High school of the Year
OASIS HIGH SCHOOL
VHEMBE HIGH SCHOOL

27.Tertiary School recognition
LUTUMBA VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

28.Environmental Conservationist Champion Award
RANGELANDS REGENERATION TRUST

29.Public Transport Company of the Year
VICKY TRANSPORT
MB TRANSPORT
BLESS IT UP TRANSPORT

30.Commercial Transport Company of the Year
SABOT
GDC WHELSON
COLBRO

31.Logistic Company of the year
BOLLORE TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS
CEVA LOGISTICS
SPEEDLINK CARGO

32.Best Security Company of the year
FAWCETT SECURITY
SAFEGUARD SECURITY
SEASEC SECURITY

33.Construction Company of the year
BITUMEN WORLD
SDP AFRICA
FORIT CONSTRUCTION

34.Meat Market of the Year
TERRY’S BUTCHERY
GINGER’S BUTCHERY
LAMOLA’S BUTCHERY

35.Best Pharmaceutical company of the year
BEITBRIDGE PHARMACY
OLICHEM PHARMACY
GARIKAI PHARMACY

36.Hardware Shop of the year
RELIABLE HARDWARE
MARVELS HARDWARE
IPRITA HARDWARE

37.Best Water Purification company of the year
SOUTHERN AQUA
DEEP SIP
PERFECT WATER

38.Beitbridge Law Firm of the Year
MUSSINA ATTORNEY & LAW
MASAWI AND PARTNERS
TERERAI LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

Beitbridge Business Expo Committee Decisions
39•Community Champion of the year x 3
A person in the community who take on an issue or project and is fearless in raising awareness and support for it.
THUPEYO MULEYA
PATIENCE MOYO
SHIRISH M CHOHAN

40.Lifetime Achievement Award x 2
For contribution by an individual or organisation to the growth, development and well- being of the community over more than 15 years.
MRS LAURENE MNDALA
MR DIGBY BRISTOW