By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Cross Borders for Economic Development (CB4ED) has been honored with the Best Performance Award for 2025 at the Legacy TV Empowerment Awards Fifth Edition, held on Sunday at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).
This year’s awards ran under the theme: “Creating a Legacy of Patriotism and Progress Towards a Prosperous Vision 2030.”
CB4ED was recognised for its outstanding contribution to national development, empowerment of small-scale traders, and continued alignment with national strategic goals.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network, CB4ED Matabeleland South Chairperson Blessing Mureyani said the award reflects the organization’s dedication to contributing toward Zimbabwe’s development goals.
“This recognition means a lot to us as an affiliation,” Mureyani said.
“It affirms our commitment to supporting the national vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy by 2030. As we always say, ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’ a country is built by its own people. As Zimbabweans, we are united in building our nation,” he said.
Mureyani said the association remains guided by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s development mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind.”
“We will continue delivering good services to the people. Many of our projects were implemented under National Development Strategy 1, and as the country transitions to NDS2 in 2026, we will also transition and continue supporting national development,” he said.
Mureyani further said the Presidential Advisor on Special Investments Dr Paul Tungwarara was the Guest of Honour announced and the President through him has made provision of USD 2000 for each of the awards winners.
He said many of the affilia achievements were carried out under National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), and CB4ED stands ready to continue its work as the country transitions to NDS2 in 2026.
CB4ED, established in 2022, is a membership-based structure representing cross-border traders across Zimbabwe.
Known for advocating the removal of trade barriers, the group is also closely associated with the ruling ZANU-PF and has launched several empowerment initiatives, including a revolving fund to assist traders.
In Matabeleland South, the association has implemented notable community development projects. In Beitbridge, CB4ED drilled a borehole at the Beitbridge District Hospital and installed a water tank near the maternity wing an intervention aimed at easing long-standing water shortages at the border hospital.
Additionally, it is providing interest-free loans to SMEs in Beitbridge, payable over three months, to empower small businesses and support local economic growth.