By Staff Reporter
BULAWAYO– Renowned business mogul and philanthropist, Ambassador Prof. Smelly Dube, has asserted her dominance in the corporate landscape after clinching the top honor at the Zimbabwe CEO Network Southern Region awards.
Prof. Dube, the Chief Executive Officer of River Valley Group, was awarded the prestigious Businesswoman of the Year Super Platinum Award, the highest recognition presented during the high-profile ceremony held in Bulawayo recently.
The accolade recognizes Prof. Dube’s exceptional leadership in the real estate sector , mining industry and her extensive philanthropic initiatives that continue to impact lives across the region. This latest achievement adds to a growing portfolio of international and local honors, including her recent recognition at the African Achievers Awards, 100 Most Notable Africans and Leaders Without Borders international Honours.
Speaking following her win, Prof. Dube attributed the success to a collaborative environment and the national economic trajectory spearheaded by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
“This award is a reflection not only on my efforts as an individual but a testimony of how His Excellency President Mnangagwa’s vision to shape Zimbabwe into a middle-income economy continues to gain momentum,” Dr. Dube said. “Teamwork strengthens our goal, and the existing policies of the Second Republic have allowed us to get space for corporate dexterity.”
On the Top Company in Southern Region Category– Mining, Mining Supplies, and Extraction (Gold Winner): the winner was Shurugwi based Tebekwe Mine, a subsidiary of the River Valley Group led by Prof Smelly Dube alongside her husband Eng. Dr. Mncedisi Dube.
The awards ceremony, which specifically spotlighted economic contributions from Bulawayo, Midlands, Matabeleland North, and Matabeleland South, served as a premier networking hub for “C-Suite” executives to discuss regional trade and industrialization towards Vision 2030.
While Prof. Dube took the night’s top honors, several other prominent figures were recognized for their contributions to regional development.
Professor DZ Moyo, Vice-Chancellor of Gwanda State University, received the Platinum Award for Outstanding Vice-Chancellor.
Respect Gono, Chief Director in the Department of Immigration, was honored for excellence in public service leadership while Tendai Mutseyekwa, Deputy Director of Marketing and PR, was named Outstanding C-Suite Marketing Leader.
On the other hand, Signarama Zimbabwe, took home the award for Outstanding Outdoor Company.
The Zimbabwe CEO Network noted that the primary objective of the Southern Region awards is to provide a professional platform to identify and celebrate visionary trailblazers who are driving excellence within the local corporate landscape.
The event highlighted a diverse mix of public and private sector successes, signaling a unified effort toward achieving national economic goals in Zimbabwe’s traditional industrial hub.
