Awards for Zim’s visionaries
ZTN reporter
THE National Rehabilitation Centre in Ruwa on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare was on Saturday, October 19, a hive of activity, with the hosting of the inaugural Men with a vision Business Awards, to reward people who have made a positive impact in society.
The awards, the brainchild of Ruth Pasi, a Zimbabwean based in Australia, were sponsored by the Ruth Pasi Foundation, in collaboration with African Theatres, and saw winners walking away with certificates.
The winners included Mr Thomas Tapa, who received a lifetime achievement award for being the first black Zimbabwean to own a driving school, entrepreneurs Dr Chomi Makina, CEO of Moonlight Funeral Assurance Company, George Munengwa, of ProAir air conditioning company, and supermarket and wholesale chain group proprietor, Mahomed Mussa.
The media awards were won by media personalities and broadcasters Admire Taderera, who won the Best journalist of our time award, Kanyemba Bonzo of National FM, who won the Best radio personality award, Nqobile Malinga of ZBC who won the Best Television Producer award, and ZTN’s Ishmael Ndlovu, who got the Best disability advocate journalist of the year award for his radio programme Disability Factor, on Star FM.
Musician Kudzi Nyakudya won the Best male gospel artiste award, while Goodness and Mercy Ministries leader, Prophet Tapiwa Freddy received the Best church leader award.
Guest of honour at the event, former Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Commissioner-General, Dr Gershem Pasi, called on the award winners to keep focused on their vision and to make sacrifices to realise their dreams.
“Being a visionary demands patience and clarity of vision. One should also know when to hand over the baton to someone else.
“There is need to prepare for life after whatever we are doing”, he said.
National Rehabilitation Centre spokesperson, Superintendent Justice Goche, said the institution was built in 1980 as a vocational training and academic centre for former freedom fighters who were injured during the liberation war. He said today the centre provides vocational training, physiotherapy, orthopaedic services and treats spinal injuries in addition to also serving as an academic centre for students with disabilities.
He appealed for corporates and individuals to support the institution in cash or kind.
Entertainment was provided by a young musician with a disability, Terry G, whose collaboration with another musician with a disability, Prudence Mabhena, left the audience asking for more.