Staff Reporter
Engineer Mncedisi Dube and his wife Smelly, of River Valley Group of Companies in Gweru, made history when they were inducted into the Class of 2025 Hall of Fame for their leadership and philanthropy benefiting vulnerable communities in the country.
The awards ceremony was in Windhoek, Namibia, metamorphosed as the 10th Leaders Without Borders International Economic Development and Investment Business Summit, from 24-26 October 2025, under this year’s theme dubbed: Eliminating Intra-African Trade Barriers: Strengthening Policy Reforms & Strategic Execution Models for Africa’s Economic Growth.
Prof Dube gave credit for being awarded the Hall of Fame Awards to the second republic’s ease of doing business and open for business policies.
“We are striving to see the country’s Vision 2030 enunciated by President Mnangagwa come to fruition and it is the pursuit of this goal that has seen us being honored,” she said.
The Dube couple was also recognized for their contribution to Zimbabwe’s economic development through their mining ventures at Tebekwe mine in Shurugwi, which employs more than 500 families in direct employment and thousands of beneficiaries through their philanthropic engagements in Gweru, Shurugwi and Zvishavane.
The event saw several Zimbabweans stealing the spotlight at the event, where five business leaders were recognized for their exceptional contributions to transforming different sectors of society.
Discovery Ambulance Services CEO, Mr. David Munowenyu, received two awards and entered the 2025 Leaders Without Borders Hall of Fame for leadership in lifesaving efforts in Zimbabwe.
“It is quite an honor that today my works are beginning to be recognized even outside the country. Ours is just to fulfill the President’s call that ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.’ We are doing all we can to ensure that the vision becomes a reality.
We want to thank our President for creating an enabling working environment, which has witnessed our country developing at a phenomenal level. It is always great to see Zimbabweans coming out tops in all spheres of life,” he said.
“Gone are the days when we were looked down upon as a people.
Today we are shaping our own destiny as Zimbabweans and the world is taking note”, he added.
Another local entrepreneur, Dr Victor Wasara, was honoured for his outstanding work in shaping the real estate industry in the country.
“This is a great honour for me. Yes, my works have been recognized before, but this honour is indeed befitting. It gives me the appetite to continue coming up with strategies that will help our country grow. As the real estate industry, we are at the forefront of the country’s economic growth,” he noted.
Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officers network vice president Mr Christopher Togaraseyi, who was also honoured at the event, said the hard work by locals is proving to be competitive on the international stage.
“We have been blessed to have a leadership that has empowered its citizenry.
Today, we stand as a beacon of success, where the whole of Africa is appreciative of our works. As a country, we are going far in terms of development,” he said.
The Leaders Without Borders Development Center is a group of African businesspeople who are advancing the dreams of Africa’s founding fathers in pushing for a unified continent without the restrictions of borders brought about by colonialism.
The group is celebrating this year its 10th anniversary under the theme: ‘Eliminating African Trade Barriers: Strengthening Policy Reforms and Strategic Execution Models for Africa’s Economic Growth. Africa’s Economic Growth.’
