U.S. Ambassador Charles A. Ray and Fred Mutanda, Chairman of the American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ), today announced the winners of the first annual "Investing in Zimbabwe's Future" Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards: Econet and African Sun Zimbabwe Limited.

The "Investing in Zimbabwe's Future" Corporate Social Responsibility Awards are being launched for the first time this year by the U.S. Embassy and the American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ). The awards will be given at the ABAZ Just Business Forum closing reception at the Celebration Centre September 29.

Intended to be an annual recognition of outstanding displays of corporate social responsibility, the Investing in Zimbabwe's Future award winners are selected by a group of ABAZ board members and U.S. Embassy officials. Criteria for selection includes demonstrated commitment, including leadership and resources, to improving the lives of the future generation of Zimbabwe and concrete efforts to open education and job opportunities for young Zimbabweans.

Econet and African Sun Zimbabwe Limited continued investing in Zimbabwe's youth by supporting young, gifted but economically disadvantaged Zimbabweans as they work to build their educational and professional capacity. This support, for example, enabled nine disadvantaged Zimbabwean students to travel to the United States for tertiary education.

The nine students were among the 23 students who were awarded scholarships by American colleges and universities to pursue degree programs after undergoing the United States Student Achievers Program (USAP) in 2009-2010. Their scholarships in the U.S. cover full board and tuition for four-year degree programs.

Leading telecommunications service provider Econet Wireless Ltd donated US$20,000 to six USAP students on their way to the U.S. to begin studies this September. The funding covered various urgent needs including university fees shortfalls and personal expenses for Hazel Zengeni – MIT; Rudo Mudzi – Mt. Holyoke College; Tracy Lukwani – Mt. Holyoke College; Desmond Rgwaringesu – Reed College; Elvis Rambanapasi – Quinnipiac College; and Tinashe Mubvuma – Swarthmore College. All six students are previous beneficiaries of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Scholarship fund, a Pan-African scholarship fund to which Econet is the main benefactor.

Leading hotel and leisure group African Sun Limited donated U.S.$7,500 worth of airline tickets for three USAP students to travel to the U.S. The students are Tendai Mudyiwa – Kalamazoo College; Norman Chamusa -- College of Wooster; and Chido Matara -- Berea College.

Ambassador Ray encouraged other corporate interests similarly to contribute to building a better future for Zimbabwe's young people. "It is our hope that through more public-private partnerships like these, Zimbabwe will build a much better future where young people have many education and employment opportunities to choose from. This will take hard work and the private sector must be fully engaged. Through these CSR awards, we are very proud to recognize the dedication of certain companies to create a better future for all the people of Zimbabwe, and especially for young people."

The American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ) is the collective voice of U.S. business and investment in Zimbabwe. It serves as both a forum and representative body for U.S. business and Zimbabwean/American business interests to encourage a better understanding of the role of business in a competitive market system. The 2010 Just Business Forum seeks to make a significant contribution to debate on economic policy in Zimbabwe and the development business-friendly economic policies contributing to economic recovery and growth.

Comments and queries should be addressed to Sharon Hudson-Dean, Public Affairs Officer. E-mail: hararepas@state.gov Tel. +263 4 758800-1, Fax: 758802.

The Leading Hotels of the World have reached an agreement to partner with Lufthansa German Airlines, 'Lufthansa Miles & More', and Thai Airways, 'Royal Orchid Plus', frequent traveller programs. This allows the internationally renowned Victoria Falls Hotel to affiliate itself with both airlines, awarding airline miles upon booking a deluxe room to members of these programmes.

"Airline mileage programmes are one of the most powerful ways to build customer loyalty and, with over 7.5 million members, this is an excellent opportunity for The Victoria Falls Hotel to build upon the customer's loyalty while increasing our market share. Guests staying at our hotel will earn 500 miles per stay in a deluxe room", says Karl Snater, General Manager of Victoria Falls Hotel.

The Victoria Falls Hotel, jointly operated by African Sun and Meikles Africa Hotels, has a reputation of being one of the most famous and distinguished hotels on the African continent. Although over 100 years old, this elegant hotel is in delightfully pristine and perfect conditions for all to savour and enjoy when visiting the famous Victoria Falls.

Guests are able to redeem their miles upon check-in at the Front Office of the hotel when they produce their membership card.

For more information, contact The Victoria Falls Hotel on gm@tvfh.africansun.co.zw or pacro@africansunhotels.com

Click Here to Visit The Victoria Falls Hotel Page

As we speak this month, I reflect on our environment, on what is taking place around us, and how it impacts our business. The key message is that the global economic forum has changed forever. It has become evident that prudency in all we do has come to the fore and is now a key business imperative more than it has ever been.

In order to preserve value for the business, for ourselves and attain sustainable growth, we will have to become mavericks at what we do and in all areas of operation while maintaining our values. Although I use the term maverick, very much tongue in cheek, I must emphasize that we must realize that we will have to do more with less.

Income streams from our existing and potential clients are largely rationalized thereby resulting in a ripple effect to the service industry. This means that our guests are more likely to be price sensitive and at the same time demanding better service standards and delivery from us. This expectation has a direct bearing on our staffing and the requisite levels and caliber of personnel handling our guests.

I recently presented a paper at the Institute of People Management of Zimbabwe (IPMZ) conference held in Victoria Falls and my talk touched on these key issues of what is expected of our people to enable them to deliver to internationally acceptable standards, yet at the same time managing head count as any efficient business should. The issue of multi-skilling with the right candidates is a real one which should be the backbone of any organization. In order to effectively deliver at all times, we need to identify talent, nurture it, and this will eventually ensure our competitiveness not only on the African platform but on a global scale as well.

This forces me to revisit our staff skills competitiveness globally. What comes to mind is that we have pockets of excellence, but in order to change the perception of current skills level for Africa, our current training and development model has to be revamped in order to fit and meet modern challenges. The framework of the past will not work, therefore I leave you with this food for thought, what part can you play in your organization to ensure that your team remains relevant for today's world and beyond?

"Are you crazy?" This is the response as we tell our friends that we're going to drive to Victoria Falls! "All the way from Johannesburg?" "Why don't you just fly?!"

In all honesty the decision of where to go came after the decision to drive. Having flown all the way to South Africa, it seemed a waste to fly back to Europe, having not explored a little of Southern Africa. Hiring a 4x4 for cross-border travel was easy. A number of companies offer comprehensive insurance with only a small cross-border surcharge.

With Zimbabwe practically on the doorstep, it seemed anything other than a crazy decision. If we'd flown we would have missed most of the country. This way we experienced the beauty of the landscape, the warmth of the people and everything else that our adventure threw at us.

Within four hours drive from Johannesburg we're already at the border. The drive has been easy, huge toll roads almost all the way with signs to Zimbabwe as well as Musina. We stand in line, submit our driving licences and letter of authorisation from the hire car company and patiently wait. Indeed that is all we can do - follow the process - although we are itching to get back in our car and see that sign, "Welcome to Zimbabwe".

Two hours later, with a tank full of petrol from South Africa, we pass that long awaited sign and drive into Zimbabwe. Within a few hundred metres the tarmac road peters out, to be replaced by an uneven dirt road complete with potholes. Thank goodness we've got a 4x4! We're practically driving on unmarked sand, so how do we know which way it is to Bulawayo? The traffic, all two trucks, heading in the opposite direction is our only guide. However, just as we begin to recalculate the time it will take to reach our hotel, we spot tarmac!

The roads for the remainder of our journey throughout Zimbabwe are perfectly drivable. The odd pothole and police road block slow us down, but with plenty of fruit and a few US dollars to pave our way, we're well on course for an early evening arrival. Within four hours drive, we're amongst the wide, tree-lined avenues of Bulawayo. If we'd opted to drive to Cape Town, we wouldn't even be in sight of the Ocean by now.

Before we complete the last leg of our outward journey to Victoria Falls we need to refuel. Then the counter argument hits - it is USD 1 for a litre of diesel and petrol cost us USD 1.50. Availability is also a problem, so we make sure we fill the tank, before we head into the rural areas. The road to Victoria Falls puts this all in perspective. Passing alongside the Hwange National Park we're surrounded by lush, green vegetation, making the drive as refreshing as it is interesting.

It was a great drive, but I think tonight we'll take the boat rather than the car!