THE Financial Gazette, the country’s most influential business weekly, has re-launched the Top Companies Survey. The survey was suspended in 2008 due to the economic crisis, which started in 2000 and worsened in 2008 before receding on dollarisation in 2009. The situation had therefore made it impossible to continue with the survey. In re-launching the survey, whose results will be unveiled at an event to be held at the end of August, the pink paper, as the Financial Gazette is affectionately known, has partnered Old Mutual, the country’s largest investor on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE).
The theme for this year’s survey is “Rebuilding Partnerships Anchored on Excellence”. The theme is in line with current government efforts aimed at rebuilding the economy following a decade of recession. Launched in 1980, the Top Companies Survey had run for 28 years before its suspension, with an emphasis on recognising the top performing companies listed on the ZSE.
The aim of the survey is to promote good corporate governance practices, ethical conduct and corporate social responsibility (CSR), while at the same time providing a platform for networking among corporate leaders and other invited guests. A panel of judges and analysts has been assembled to come up with the judging criteria and categories for the top awards. Judging is expected to commence soon, culminating into the awards ceremony in August.
Editor-In-Chief of the Financial Gazette, Hama Saburi, said they were delighted to partner one of the country’s most respected brands on a project that would promote a strong corporate sector and provide opportunities for Zimbabweans. “We are happy to have a dependable partner in the form of Old Mutual,” Saburi said.
“It is not just good CSR for Old Mutual and the Financial Gazette; it is about promoting a strong corporate sector, a strong economy and opportunities for our people. Being the largest investor in Zimbabwe, it makes sense for Old Mutual to promote competition, good corporate governance and ethics to secure its investments. The economic meltdown of the lost decade had made it impossible to run the survey and we are excited that the situation now warrants us to revive the survey with renewed vigour.
On re-launching the Top Companies Survey, we took our time because we wanted a lasting and perfect partnership and I am happy to say we have found one in Old Mutual,” said Saburi. The Top Companies Survey has had several previous sponsors among them the Zimbabwe Development Bank (now the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe), CBZ Holdings, Interfin Holdings Limited and Premier Finance Group, which is has been transformed into Ecobank. — Staff Reporter.