PMR awards outstanding executives

BUSINESS and government executives from all over Namibia received Diamond, Gold and Silver awards at an annual ceremony in Windhoek on Friday morning.

The ceremony was held by Professional Management Review Africa (PMR), a leading business information source for the subcontinent. The City of Windhoek was awarded one Diamond (the highest) Arrow, one Gold and one Silver Arrow.The Diamond Arrow was bestowed for its work in creating jobs, social upliftment and attracting foreign investment.The Golden Arrow was for local investment initiatives, the Silver for tourism.Walvis Bay was the other contender in the local authorities sector.Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo was awarded a Diamond Arrow as a “mayor deserving special recognition for achievements over the past year”.The citation highlighted the fact that Mayor Shikongo received more than half the votes cast in this category, far more than the nearest competitor.All the 2003 award finalists were identified through a survey conducted by the PMR Intelligence unit comprising 100 prominent Namibian business and government leaders, financial analysts, trade unionists and other senior decision-makers.The companies, government ministries and individuals presented with their awards at the function qualified by being either the highest-rated or most cited in a given category.The government ministries section was won by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which received a Golden Arrow as the best in achieving its goals and doing the most for prosperity and growth in Namibia.In the category for corporate social development and upliftment initiatives, NamPower emerged No. 1 for its contributions to fighting HIV-AIDS and doing the most for black economic empowerment.NamPower received a Diamond Arrow, while the Ohlthaver & List Group (O&L) took second-place Gold Patrick Hashingola, O&L’s public relations officer, said: “This award encourages us to double our efforts in view of our partnership with Epia Investment Holdings”.In June 2002, Epia Investments became O&L’s partner in economically empowering previously disadvantaged communities in a N$600 million deal, he explained.The most fiercely contested category acknowledged companies that have done the most to foster Namibia’s economic growth and development in their own sector.Here the Diamond Arrows went to: First National Bank, Namibian Development Corporation, Radiowave, Game Lodge and Spa, Alexander Forbes Financial Services, Namsov Fishing Enterprises, Woker Freight Services, Windhoek Country Club, Namibia Breweries, Namzinc, NamPower, Wesbank Transport, and Allan Gray Unit Trust Management.Awards for outstanding service and contribution to the Namibian economy by a business person were won by: Harold Pupkewitz, CEO of Pupkewitz Holdings (Golden Arrow), and Dr Leake Hangala, MD of NamPower (Silver Arrow).In this, as in some other categories, no contestant was considered worthy of a Diamond Arrow, so the ‘first prize’ was a Gold Arrow.Pupkewitz, in his acceptance speech said: “Namibia’s future lies in our hands: we cannot leave it to ‘them’, whoever they may be, to solve our problems.Each of us, parent, student, teacher, employee, manager, public servant or politician, has a duty towards ourselves, our families and our country”.The City of Windhoek was awarded one Diamond (the highest) Arrow, one Gold and one Silver Arrow. The Diamond Arrow was bestowed for its work in creating jobs, social upliftment and attracting foreign investment. The Golden Arrow was for local investment initiatives, the Silver for tourism. Walvis Bay was the other contender in the local authorities sector. Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo was awarded a Diamond Arrow as a “mayor deserving special recognition for achievements over the past year”. The citation highlighted the fact that Mayor Shikongo received more than half the votes cast in this category, far more than the nearest competitor. All the 2003 award finalists were identified through a survey conducted by the PMR Intelligence unit comprising 100 prominent Namibian business and government leaders, financial analysts, trade unionists and other senior decision-makers. The companies, government ministries and individuals presented with their awards at the function qualified by being either the highest-rated or most cited in a given category. The government ministries section was won by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which received a Golden Arrow as the best in achieving its goals and doing the most for prosperity and growth in Namibia. In the category for corporate social development and upliftment initiatives, NamPower emerged No. 1 for its contributions to fighting HIV-AIDS and doing the most for black economic empowerment. NamPower received a Diamond Arrow, while the Ohlthaver & List Group (O&L) took second-place Gold Patrick Hashingola, O&L’s public relations officer, said: “This award encourages us to double our efforts in view of our partnership with Epia Investment Holdings”. In June 2002, Epia Investments became O&L’s partner in economically empowering previously disadvantaged communities in a N$600 million deal, he explained. The most fiercely contested category acknowledged companies that have done the most to foster Namibia’s economic growth and development in their own sector. Here the Diamond Arrows went to: First National Bank, Namibian Development Corporation, Radiowave, Game Lodge and Spa, Alexander Forbes Financial Services, Namsov Fishing Enterprises, Woker Freight Services, Windhoek Country Club, Namibia Breweries, Namzinc, NamPower, Wesbank Transport, and Allan Gray Unit Trust Management. Awards for outstanding service and contribution to the Namibian economy by a business person were won by: Harold Pupkewitz, CEO of Pupkewitz Holdings (Golden Arrow), and Dr Leake Hangala, MD of NamPower (Silver Arrow). In this, as in some other categories, no contestant was considered worthy of a Diamond Arrow, so the ‘first prize’ was a Gold Arrow. Pupkewitz, in his acceptance speech said: “Namibia’s future lies in our hands: we cannot leave it to ‘them’, whoever they may be, to solve our problems. Each of us, parent, student, teacher, employee, manager, public servant or politician, has a duty towards ourselves, our families and our country”.