Econet, Telecel, Airzim shine at MAZ awards

MUTARE – Five individuals and corporates walked away with awards during the 2013 Marketers Association of Zimbabwe’s Marketing Awards ceremony held in Mutare last week.

Telecel Zimbabwe, through its product “Telecel Red”, scooped the Exceptional Product of the Year award while Air Zimbabwe won the Exceptional Promotional Campaign award and Econet Zimbabwe clinched the Exceptional Product Combo Award through its EcoCash product and the Exceptional Corporate Social Responsibility award for its Joshua Nkomo Scholarship Fund.

The CSR award is given to an organisation that has demonstrated sustainable programmes that benefit the society.

In the individual categories Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi received the Exceptional Contribution to Marketing award and Telecel Zimbabwe’s Mr Octivius Kahiya won the Marketer of the Year award. Ms Ruth Ncube received Minister Mzembi’s award on his behalf.

“This award is a humbling one considering the work that was done by Minister Mzembi in driving the Zimbabwean brand on the international market.

“Although he is absent because of commitments at the Sanganai/Hlanganani, the minister is going to call for a Press briefing on this award,” she said.

The Exceptional Product of the Year award is given to a company whose product or service is a totally new idea in Zimbabwe.

The new product is supposed to have market dominance over other new products launched during the same period and it is also supposed to demonstrate overall marketing excellence and innovation.

The award seeks to recognise those promotional campaigns that have been on the top of the consumer’s mind during the period under review.

The exceptional promotional campaign award recognises a company that has a promotional campaign that had a global appeal and highly creative initiative while the Exceptional Product Combo Award recognises two products from different companies that have a top of mind awareness.

The Exceptional Contribution to Marketing award is given to an individual or corporate that has made a major contribution to the promotion and marketing of the national brand.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, MAZ president Ms Ruth Ncube said the awards were meant to recognise the good works done by individuals and corporates at the same time motivating the marketers.

“Exceptional Marketing Awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the marketing process within the business spectrum. The awards recognise organisations which have pushed their brands towards measuring success through effective running of their marketing plans,” she said.

The Exceptional Marketing Awards were launched in 2011, initially titled the Marketing Efforts Awards. They were later rebranded to Exceptional Marketing Awards in 2013 with the idea of making them even more exciting and recognisable.