Pote Holdings dominate business awards

POTE Holdings director Mr Antony Clever Pote from Zvishavane in the Midlands Province solidified his growing status as one of the country’s reputable businesspersons when he scooped the Megafest Southern Region Businessman of the Year award at a colourful ceremony held in Bulawayo on Friday night.

Mr Pote’s business acumen was also exhibited when two of his subordinates, Mr Victor Mavingire and Mr Tamson Mtombeni scooped the second runner-up Hotel Manager of the Year and First runner-up Manager of the Year accolades respectively.

In claiming the top gong, Mr Pote outsmarted Mr Crispen Thomu of Midlands Spar who was the first runner-up while Engineer Killan Ukama of True Destination Inves tments and Petros Ma l a h l e k a Moyo, the owner of Brotherhood School of Motoring were tied second runners-up.

Mr Pote operates various business units ranging from grocery shops, hardware, road transportation, borehole drilling, hotel and accommodation. The owner of River Valley Properties, also from Midlands Province, Mrs Smelly Dube scooped the Businesswoman of the Year award while Mrs Kim Drummond of Drummond Chickens was the first runner-up.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company general manager, Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu, said the hosting of business awards was an indication that there was still life in the southern region industries.

“Our region has received quite a bit of coverage on the devastating de-industrialisation that sometimes you almost think that there is no industry left to talk about. But events such as this one are so critical in telling our story and in sending a very strong signal that there are still plenty of successes worth celebrating,” said Mrs Ndlovu.

The event also saw two prominent businessmen, Mr Worthwhile Mugabe of DSK electrical wholesalers, among other companies in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and Mr Jim Ross Goddard who is into contsruction honoured for being southern region’s best industrialists.

Mr Warren King of Safeguard Security, Mr Lovemore Chinaka of Zesa, Mr Busisa Moyo of

Senior managers at Pote Holdings receive a shield and a trophy on behalf of their boss Mr Antony Clever Pote who was voted Megafest Businessman of the Year 2016 from the guest of honour Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu (second from right) of ZITF and the CEO of...