Harare — Goldsearch Technical Services managing director Mr Vimbai Chakanetsa and Midlands State University's Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Ngwabi Bhebhe, have ben named the 2009 Zimbabwe Institute of Management private and public sector managers of the year respectively.

Last year's winners in the private sector category, Mr Douglas Mboweni of Econet Wireless and Mr Brighton Chinyere of Nyaradzo Funeral Assurance Company came in second and third place respectively.

Vice President Joice Mujuru presented the awards at a glittering function to honour the country's top managers from the previous year, which attracted over 300 business executives in Harare last Friday.

The awards are an annual event hosted by the Zimbabwe Institute of Management to honour the country's managers who would have excelled in their respective businesses in the prior year.

The public service run-up manager of the year award went to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Commissioner General Mr Gershem Pasi while Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe chief executive Mr David Chawota was in third place.

Small-to-Medium Enterprises manager of the year was scooped by ZimLabs managing director Mrs Naume Mandizha, ahead of Ms Caroline Chirima of BaxTech Incorporated and Mr Evans Kurangwa of Advantage Flooring who came in second and third place respectively.

Troutbeck Resort (a subsidiary of African Sun) won the customer service excellence award, and Barclays Bank came in second place. There was no taker for the third position slot.

Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust executive director Mr Farai Mpfunya won the national contribution award and in second position was the executive director of the Presidential Scholarship programme Mr Chris Mushohwe. There was also no taker of the third position for this award.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (Harare region) notched the human resources development award.

In her address, VP Mujuru urged the private sector to partner with the Government to enhance the country's efforts in skills development.

"Any stable economic growth target is premised on a skilled labour force, hence it is important for the country to continue with its skills development programmes. Government remains dedicated to the education sector, however due to current low revenues, the Government cannot meet all its requirements.

"It is, therefore, important that the private sector joins hands with Government to ensure that the needs of that particular sector are met, for instance by increasing their annual budgets dedicated to skills development, as well as expanding their in-house training programmes. All things being equal, there is a strong correlation between personnel skills development and economic growth," said Vice President Mujuru.