The Marketers Associations of Zimbabwe held Exceptional Marketing Awards Dinner at Cresta Lodge in Msasa on 23 September 2022.

This was one of the best events hosted by MAZ this year. The EMA awards were introduced by the Marketers Associations of Zimbabwe in the year 2012 to encourage and celebrate excellence across the marketing process within the business spectrum. These awards recognise organisations and people who have achieved outstanding success in their planning and implementation of marketing and related area strategies annually.

The awards kicked off by welcome remarks from MAZ President, Professor Zororo Muranda.  He highlighted that the 2022 EMA Awards were special as they were a stand-alone event for the first time. He said, “For the first time since the EMA launch, we are hosting the EMA awards outside the Annual Convention. This was partly due to the forthcoming AMC conference, but also necessitated by the need to grow these awards and encourage marketing practitioners to excel.”

Mr Herbert Nkala, the Chairperson of OK Zimbabwe was the guest speaker at the event, he articulated on the topic “Marketing in a Turbulent Environment” as he displayed the characters of turbulent times.

The EMA awards were sponsored by ZimGold and Dairiboard Holdings. It was a glitz and glamour event as marketers were superbly dressed in the theme colour which was black with a touch of gold. The event was graced by Agga Nyabinde and the 2 Nice band who were entertaining the marketers with Jazz music.

The most coveted award of the night was the top National Marketer of the year which was won by Stella Nkomo who is the ZITF Marketing Manager. This award is given to an individual who has spearheaded or implemented a financially viable campaign. The award winner should be innovative and a team player. The first runner up for this award was Lillian Rutendo Mubayiwa from Old Mutual and the second runner up was Lawrence Kutinyu from National Foods.

Best Marketing Oriented CEO/Managing Director of the year was one of the tight contested categories of the night. Nyaradzo group CEO was battling it out with ZITF’s Dr Nick Ndebele, Sirdc CEO Professor Robson Mafoti and Vijay Bahl who is the Ceo of Varun Beverages. The award was scooped by Vijay Bahl. Phillip Mataranyika was the first runner up while Dr Nicholas Ndebele and Professor Robson Mafoti were the second and third runner ups respectively.

United Refineries Limited’s Sales Manager Conchita Jo-Anne Vermack was named the Sales Manager of the year. She was battling with Sydney Tafadzwa Chasekwa, the Sales Manager of POSB Zimbabwe and Piwai Tafuma who is the Sales Manager of The Legacy Car Rental. This award is given to an individual who has managed to improve the company’s sales. The person must have interpersonal skills to communicate with customers.

The Brand Manager of the year award went to Grace Chimedza, Nyaradzo Group Marketing Officer. Sharon Maria,the Marketing Manager of Zimswitch and Napoleon Nyathi the Managing Director of Jacaranda Media House were first and second runner ups, respectively. This award is given to a person who provides an outstanding strategy for a company’s target market.

National Public Relations Practitioner of the year award went to Lloyd Gumbo who is the PR manager at Insurance and Pension Commission. He was battling it with Prudence Muganiwa from Nyaradzo Group and Elizabeth Dziva from Multichoice Zimbabwe. They finished first and second runner up respectively. The award is given to an individual who has managed to maintain good corporate reputation for the organisation.

The Managing Director of Sunduz Design, Kundai Sasha Sunduz, won the coveted Best National Young Achiever/Upcoming Marketer of the year. He was competing with Sineke Sibanda who is the Brand Officer at Ecosure and Tinovimbaishe Hove, from Bakers Ogilvy who became the second runner up.

The best National Promotion of the year went to ZITF for the outstanding ZITF 2022 with Econet Wireless Smart USD Bundle Campaign being the first runner up. The second runner up was Seedco with the biggest Cob challenge.

Schweppes Holdings Africa Limited won the best Exceptional National Corparate Social Responsibility Campaign through their Operation of Hope Campaign. The Alternative Education Project by Ecobank became the first runner up. Second runner up stood with Automobile with their # I See You Challenge.

National Marketing Services Supplier of the year award went to Gikko Mobile Massaging competing with Image Magic Corporate and Askeland Media, being on first and second runner up respectively.

Premier Corporate Gifts won the best National Marketing Oriented SME of the year. The Legacy Car Rental was the first runner up with Powerlive Zimbabwe being the second runner up.

Dairiboard Zimbabwe was innovative as it produced Cascade Baobab and it received the best National New Product or Innovation of the year. Delta Beverages’ Sable Lager got the first runner up award with United Refineries Limited as the second runner up with the URL Pavilion made from shipping containers.

Extreme Customer Experience award went to Telone with the Engage Campaign. Nyaradzo Group with the Sahwi Challenge and Schweppes with customer Experience Campaign, were first and second runner up respectively.

National website of the year award went to Zimswitch with Powerlive and College Press standing at the first and second runner up respectively.

The famous Sahwira Challenge by Nyaradzo   Group won the best National Social Media and Digital Marketing Campaign of the year. Heart/love Hombe digital campaign by Cashel Calley won the first runner up award while Econet Victoria Falls Marathon Run the Big three finished at the third place.

Delta Beverages scooped the Best National Outdoor Media Advert with its Beer Giants advert. United Refineries Limited, URL celebrating 86 years of existence took the first runner up award. Procurement Trading; Strobe Gas Shock Absorber and Ecocash Holdings; Project Blue stood as the second runner ups.

Best national Print Advert of the year went to Econet Wireless #Tasimudza Malevels. Sahwi WhatsApp group by Nyaradzo Group was at second. At the third place stood Pure Oil Industries, we are on roll.

Telone Zimbabwe’s Taurai Zvenyu radio advert won the Best National Radio Advert of the year. National Foods stood at the second place with its Gloria song. Smart USD Pahushamwari Hwedu by Econet Wireless stood at third.

Love Them Now, Tell Them Now by Ecosure won the Best National TV Advert of the year. Dairiboard Zimbabwe took the first runner up price with their Adventure in a box wonder box-cool. ZITF Company stood at third with ZITF 2022 advert.

The Awards closed off with a bang as they were smiles on marketers’ faces. The Marketers Association of Zimbabwe announced that they are going to host yet another event, The African Marketers Conference from the 19^th of October up to the 22^nd of October 2022 at Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls and are looking forward to hosting marketers across all industries.

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