TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, has for the second year running — won the overall Top Companies Survey (TCS) Award — to cement its position among the country’s best-run firms.
Delta Corporation and Simbisa Brands were first and second runners-up, respectively.
Econet chief executive Douglas Mboweni, who received the award virtually, expressed gratitude for winning the accolade.
The awards, which this year entered 41 years, reward outstanding Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) performers including those in the banking and insurance sectors.
They are hosted by Zimbabwe’s number one business newspaper, The Financial Gazette — in partnership with blue chip investment, savings, insurance, and banking group, Old Mutual (OM).
An ecstatic Mboweni, who received the award on behalf of the telecoms giant, expressed gratitude for winning it for the second time on the trot.
“What we are seeing as this award is coming our way, is a testimony of the methodology we have implemented within the organisation to pursue our goals with audacity,” Mboweni said.
First runner-up, Delta Corporation, also scooped the Disclosure Investor Relations award ahead of first runner-up Innscor Africa Limited, while the top Banking Institution award went to Ecobank, with Stanbic getting the first runner-up accolade.
Clarion Insurance Company won the Top Short Term Insurer award and Doves bagged the Top Life Assurer gong, while CBZ Holdings Limited was awarded the Tangible Investor Returns award.
Padenga Holdings claimed a double after winning the Environment Social and Governance Principle and the Special Mention awards.
OM group marketing and innovative executive, Lilian Mubayiwa, said the engagement with the Financial Gazette, was a show of faith for entities continuing to punch above the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We learnt in 2020 as we navigated our stay through the Covid-19 pandemic that agility is key to success as it allows the business to quickly respond to sudden and constant changes of the customers’ needs as they also respond to the changes in their environment.
“Agility defines who falls and who survives in troubled waters such as 2020.
“As Old Mutual, other than slamming the breaks in the face of Covid-19 headwinds, we downshifted in order to listen to the customers, track the market, conserve resources and regroup to enhance our ability to change direction in a nimbler and smarter way.
“This gave us the impetus to roll with the changes that the crisis presented to launch new, safer and economic products which have resonated well with our existing customers and critically attracted the attention of new, younger clientele,” Mubayiwa said at the glittering event.
Modus Media, the publishers of the iconic Pink Paper, said Thursday’s awards were special even with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic because of the nature of the event and the inimitable partnership between OM and Fingaz.
“Today’s proceedings are about celebrating excellence, governance, profitability and corporate social responsibility.
“We will also toast to the winning and enduring partnership between two venerable brands — OM and the Pink Paper.
“While the financial services group has been celebrating its 175th birthday, under the theme of ‘doing great things and understanding that things change: but why we maintain and invest in valuable partnerships doesn’t’, Modus — on our part — has been toasting to 52 years of unmatchable partnership with local commerce and industry.
“This, therefore, means OM and our multi-platform content company share the common dream and critical goal of building an empowered, resilient and thriving Zimbabwean corporate sector, even in the midst of a pandemic — as witnessed through the 41-year-old Top Companies Survey,” Modus Media MD, Christopher Goko, said.
“Just as OM seeks to empower communities through funding support, infrastructure and social investment, among many other things, Modus Media is the undisputed leader when it comes to facilitating and enriching economic discourse in the country.
“We salute OM, our panel of judges and all the winners at tonight’s splendid event. May we all, our businesses and country continue to grow from strength to strength,” he added.
Since its launch 41 years ago, TCS has proved invaluable in promoting transparency, good corporate governance, ethical conduct and corporate social responsibility.
Austin Karonga & Myles Matarise