Home Business Awards
Category:

Business Awards

Business AwardsExhibitions

Why your ZITF exhibit might win gold (Even if your sales don’t)

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

Lenox Mhlanga

You have spent months perfecting your exhibit at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF). Your stand has interactive holograms, free samples that vanish faster than Zimbabwean sunshine in winter, and a branded hashtag trending on the X platform. Yet, when the awards are announced at the official opening ceremony, the company with a modest booth scoops the trophy.

I know it sounds a bit on the extreme, but you should hear the grumbles: “But we’re market leaders! How did THEY win?”  That’s the most common gripe, that winners don’t mirror real-world success. Here’s the twist: ZITF judges aren’t auditing your sales figures – they’re grading your stand’s X-factor.

Think of originality, clarity, and charm that make visitors swoon. Confusion reigns when people mistake this for a “best in business” contest, not realizing that it’s exhibition show-craft – where storytelling beats market dominance.

Let’s pull back the curtain on ZITF’s judging criteria where the real competition isn’t about your balance sheet, but your ability to dazzle visitors to the stand.

The five pillars of ZITF judging (Or, How to seduce a panel of experts)

Judges (pictured) at ZITF aren’t scrutinising your quarterly earnings or your market share. They’re evaluating a very specific courtship ritual: how well your exhibit performs at the trade fair itself. According to ZITF’s exhibit judging criteria, five elements rule the day:

  1. Overall impression: Does your stand stop people mid-stride? Think of this as “love at first sight” scoring. A judge once compared it to spotting a perfectly ripe mango in a market stall – irresistible, vivid, and impossible to ignore.
  2. Originality: Did you bring a knife to a gunfight… or a solar-powered, AI-driven knife that also makes coffee? Recycled concepts yawn. “We reward exhibitors who make us think, ‘Why didn’t WE think of that?’” says Lucky Mlilo, a ZITF judge with over 15 years of judging experience.
  3. Information clarity: Can a visitor grasp your core message in 5 to 10 minutes? Judges penalise exhibits that resemble PhD theses. As one judge quipped: “If I need a decoder to understand your signage, you’ve already lost points.”
  4. Quality of presentation: Flimsy banners, pixelated videos, or the dreaded inflammable draping? Instant deductions. This is where craftsmanship matters – think “Five-star stand” versus “Street vendor samoosa.”
  5. Experiential appeal: The “feel, play, stay” factor – immersive, interactive moments (virtual reality (VR), games, live trials) that turn visitors into storytellers and your brand into an unforgettable memory. Judges ask: Did you make them part of your magic?

“But we’re the market Leader!”: Why real-world success ≠ ZITF Gold

Every year, a chorus of exhibitors’ protests: “Our product dominates Harare! Why didn’t we win?” The answer lies in the best international practice. Trade fair competitions, from Hannover to Dubai, focus on exhibiting excellence, not real-world dominance. Why?

Apples vs. Oranges: How do you fairly compare a mining giant’s mega-stand with a startup’s ingenious but budget exhibit? By judging solely on how effectively each uses their ZITF footprint and conforms to the theme.

The “Stage vs. Street” rule: An experienced actor might flub a village hall performance. Similarly, market leaders can underwhelm at ZITF if their exhibit feels formulaic or disconnected from the theme (“Industrialisation: Crafting an Integrated Economic Landscape” in 2025).

Future-focused metrics: ZITF awards highlight innovation and communication skills – traits that predict future success, not just reward past achievements. The quality and the knowledgeability of stand personnel can make or break your exhibition participation effort.

Winning here doesn’t mean you’ll dominate the sector. It means you mastered the art of the “Trade Fair moment”.

Judges: The United Nations of Subjectivity

ZITF panels are a delightful paradox: structured criteria assessed by wildly diverse humans. A typical four-judge team might include a media expert dissecting your storytelling, a banker eyeing ROI potential, a Rotarian grading community impact, and a sports coach evaluating your “teamwork” (yes, even how staff collaborate at the stand matters).

This mix injects subjectivity – and that’s intentional. A university lecturer might geek out technical details, while a businessperson asks, “But how will this sell?” The result? Awards that balance creativity with practicality.

But wait – Doesn’t subjectivity breed bias? Here’s the safeguard: judges undergo rigorous briefings to align scoring with the five criteria. Personal preferences (like a banker’s love for fintech) are tempered by mandatory rubric adherence.

The ZITF award playbook: How to shine (and Silence the critics)

For exhibitors craving validation (and a shiny trophy), here’s the cheat code:

Embrace the theme: The ZITF 2025’s industrialisation focus means exhibits should spotlight integration – how your product bridges sectors or fosters collaboration.

Train your squad: Judges notice staff who engage vs. those scrolling TikTok. Role-play with your team: “Pretend every visitor is a judge… because they might be!”

KISS principle: Keep. It. Simple, Stupid. A flour manufacturer can win with a stand that offers free bread samples and a live demo of flour-making. No holograms needed.

And to the critics? Remember: ZITF awards are a snapshot, not a lifetime achievement award. As in Olympic figure skating, it’s about nailing the routine on the day – even if you’re usually a world champion. The intention is to reward the hard toil and the ingenuity of the teams that put up countless hours to exhibit at the showcase.

So, next time you lose to a “lesser” rival, don’t sulk. Ask for their stand designer’s number. After all, at ZITF, the real prize is the lessons learned, and the bragging rights until next year.

PS. A heartfelt thank you to the ZITF judges, whose selfless voluntary work and expert insights ensure the awards remain fair, inspiring, and memorable for all. Their dedication truly brings out the best in every exhibitor.

Lenox Mhlanga, is a ZITF judge and event strategy consultant, with 15 years of ZITF judging under his belt. He offers practical event planning strategies, for a fee, of course. He can be contacted on mobile: +263 772 400 656 or email: lenoxmhlanga@gmail.com

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Business Awards

MAZ to launch Teen Superbrand Awards

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

The Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) is set to introduce the Teen Superbrand Awards next month to recognise and celebrate brands that strategically resonate with the teenage market.

The association’s Executive Secretary, Gillian Rusike made the announcement in a statement last week.

“Scheduled for May 30, 2025, this awards ceremony will not only spotlight exceptional brands, but also foster innovation and excellence across various sectors,” Rusike said.

The MAZ boss explained that the initiative was necessitated by the absence of a programme to recognise and reward brands that appeal to teenagers.

“While the original Superbrand Awards initiative has celebrated brands excelling across diverse sectors, a significant gap has been identified: the urgent need for a dedicated platform that honours those brands that resonate specifically with the teenage demographic,” he said.

Rusike indicated that the association would rope in market, media and social research firm, the Consumer Feedback Consultancy to ensure that the award results give the correct picture of teen consumers’ brand preferences in Zimbabwe.

“In partnership with Consumer Feedback Consultancy, MAZ will implement a robust research methodology to ensure the awards reflect the authentic preferences of the young consumers. The Teen Superbrand initiative is a dynamic extension of the esteemed Superbrand Awards, which has been recognizing top brands in Zimbabwe since 2009,” said Rusike.

The MAZ Executive Secretary explained that recognizing brands that resonate with teenagers was crucial for the long-term sustainability of the local marketplace. He said that casting a spotlight on the brands would ensure that they remain relevant and thrive as they adapt to the evolving youth-centric consumer landscape.

Rusike further highlighted that the initiative would identify brands that have successfully cultivated loyalty among teenagers in Zimbabwe. He pointed out that contrasting the brands with their international counterparts would provide valuable insights to empower local businesses to tailor their marketing strategies effectively. The new awards initiative is also expected to provide insights and understanding of the current market dynamics, enabling brands to align their strategies with the preferences and behaviours of the youth.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Business AwardsConferences/MeetingsExhibitionsExhibitorsOrganisersUncategorizedVisitors

The 2024 business events year in a nutshell

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

As the 2024 business events year has come to an end, Business Events takes stock of the developments, issues, trends and concerns that characterised the year.

The year was characterised by new events as various sectors of the economy used business events to different objectives. New events were noted especially in the property and construction industry as well as well as the environmental, social and governance (ESG) sectors. Concerns were also noted in the area of events stakeholder experiences quality.

  • Awards

In the awards arena, the market continued to express concerns over the lack of transparency in the nomination and adjudication of some awards. Those award organisers who are known for approaching would be “awardees” soliciting for payments in exchange for awards continued their vice. Even among those awards that still retain a modicum of integrity it was disturbing to note that some brands were awarded at ceremonies which they were either sponsors or partners. Some companies accepted awards at ceremonies at which sister companies were sponsors, which compromises the awards’ stature.

Those organisers whose awards still command the market’s respect continued to shoot themselves in the foot by not saturating all platforms such as the social media with information on their nomination, judgement and selection criteria and processes to demonstrate their transparency and enhance and consolidate the stature and integrity of their awards.

There was a slight improvement in some of those awards were organisers just announce to the market awards such as 40 Top Under 40 Zimbabweans without disclosing the criteria used in the nomination and judgement criteria used to select the winners. This time around, some such award organisers invited members of the public to nominate potential winners. The selection criteria and judgement processes, as usual, were not disclosed.

In March, when the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) suspended its then Chief Executive Officer, Adelaide Chikunguru, The Standard reported that the national broadcaster, among other issues, accused Chikunguru of spending US$5 939.98 on awards from six different organisations. Chikunguru denied the accusation. None of the organisations publicly disputed the ZBC’s claim. Some observers argued that this was an opportunity for the named organisers to issue statements spelling out their criteria and processes and clear themselves of the impression created that Chikunguru had paid to win the awards in question. Others contended that if the organisations responded they would unnecessarily and unwittingly entangle themselves in a matter in which they were not principal parties. 

Despite an explanation on how exhibition awards are judged and the fact that only exhibitors that choose to compete for awards are considered for the accolades, there was a furore on social media when the national power utility, ZESA was adjudged the best overall winner in the energy sector at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show in August. This demonstrated that members of the public did not fully understand the awards process and criteria. This points to the need for organisers to educate the market on their processes as well as their selection and judging criteria.

During the year, awards were not only about controversy and negativity. Some companies used them to recognise and reward their top performers. One such company is Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe which awarded its long serving staffers and top performers. Other companies used awards to cement relations with their stakeholders. For example, in November, as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, Zimswitch awarded pacesetting member financial institutions in the adoption of its solutions since 1994 under its Milestone Awards. The Herald newspaper introduced the Community Heroes and Heroines Recognition Awards which the publication’s Editor, Victoria Ruzvidzo described as “a celebration of love, kindness, and selflessness.”

The Institute of People Management of Zimbabwe (IPMZ)’s HR Excellence Awards was renamed to Human Capital Excellence Awards. “These changes are designed to foster greater participation and confidence among all stakeholders ensuring that every deserving individual and organisation showcases their achievements in human capital management,” the institute explained using its various social media handles.

Conferences and other meetings

In 2024 the market witnessed media houses increasingly playing a role in the business events sector as they sought to move away from being mere media partners in some events. They sought to become more involved as organisers. During the year under review, Zimpapers’ various subsidiaries such as the Zimpapers Knowledge Centre partnered the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development as well as other stakeholders to hold conferences on agricultural issues such as horticulture and wheat farming.

Although Zimpapers has always had an events arm, which organised events such as The Sunday Mail Bridal Expo, the media house joined other local media players in getting more involved in the events industry. The Financial Gazette, which is part of the Jester Media Services Group organises the Top Companies Survey Awards, while the Alpha Media Holdings’ various titles organise business events such as the Annual Sustainability Summit. Events provide an additional income stream to media players whose industry is under siege from technological advancements which have seen print runs reduce significantly as people access the news from their mobile phones.

The year also saw the introduction of new events. Apart from the Zimpapers’ new business events, one area where the market witnessed new events is the sustainability subsector. As the environment, social and governance (ESG) concept and framework has taken a firm root in Zimbabwe over the past two or so years, some business events were organised to push the sustainability agenda. In September, The Zimbabwe Independent held its Annual Sustainability Summit in Harare while the Institute of Directors Zimbabwe (IODZ) partnered the Institute for Sustainability Africa (Insaf) to hold the inaugural ESG and Sustainability Conference in October in Nyanga.  

One conference that stood out was the Amplifaya Creative Business Conference which was organised by Earground Africa and ZAR Events. Hosted by the 7 Arts venue in Harare, the ground-breaking event brought together artists and corporate leaders under one roof to shape the future of Zimbabwe’s creative economy. The event was key in that it brought together main stakeholders to introspect and strategise on how to leverage the abundant talent in Zimbabwe’s creative sector for the benefit of the artists, stakeholders, the economy and society.

The period under review also witnessed the growth of some meetings. In 2023 ABC Auctions started a networking event, the ABC Connect, where professionals pitch their businesses to fellow attendees. The event grew in leaps and bounds during the course of the year. At the time of writing, 33 editions of the event had been held.

As has become the norm, the region and the continent continued to benefit from the expertise and experience of some Zimbabweans, who were invited in various capacities at different conferences. Former Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company Chairperson and past Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) President, Dr Ruth Ncube was invited to speak at the African Marketing Confederation (AMC) Annual Marketing Conference which was held in Kenya in September. Relatedly, MAZ CEO and one of the founders of the AMC, Gillian Rusike, was named as an honorary member of the AMC at the event. Digital marketing expert, Taffy Gotora was invited to facilitate a digital marketing master class during the Institute of Marketing in Malawi (IMM) annual conference in November.

The year under review also saw more entities using conferences and road shows to market their brands and initiatives to foreign-based Zimbabweans and foreigners. In the past it was mainly organisations like the CEO Africa Roundtable which used to organise business meetings in foreign lands such as the USA, but in 2024 the market saw more companies and organisations following suit. In July, CBZ and Seef Properties were in the UK for the CBZ Diaspora Business Networking Forum.  A Zimbabwe diaspora property confex was also held during the time to showcase and discuss the property opportunities in Zimbabwe.

  • Exhibitions

The year also witnessed the ongoing interest and boom in the construction industry reflecting in the number of new exhibitions and confexes which were introduced to the market. The exhibition season opened in March with the inaugural Buildex confex, which was organised by digital marketing agency, Sabistar Digital (Pvt) Ltd and backed by the Institute of Architects if Zimbabwe (IAZ) and the Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association).

In October a new events player, Africa Exhibition Group (Pvt) Ltd, and the Estate Agents Council introduced the Zimbabwe Property Expo, which was held at the Celebration Centre. December saw the introduction of the inaugural Zimbabwe Real Estate Expo. The confex incorporated the inaugural Zimbabwe Real Estate and Construction Awards.  The event broke the traditional confex mould by including tours of award winners’ projects like Exodus and Company’s Madokero Creek, Pam Golding’s cluster housing and WestProp’s Millennium Heights.

Some of the year’s exhibitions such as the ADMA AgriShow and the Annual Garden Show saw some players like Halsteds Builders Express demonstrating how to make the most of exhibitions to market one’s brand without taking up a stand at the show. Almost every show goer at the ADMA AgriShow carried a blue Halsteds-branded tote bag, thereby putting the brand in almost each visitor’s eyes. Given the amount of marketing literature that visitors collect in their rounds at such exhibitions, the bag became a very thoughtful necessity.

Additionally, Halsteds strategically placed its brand at the show by taking a showground entrance display to showcase its name and a very few hardware exhibits. During the ADMA ADMA AgriShow Business Events engaged some exhibitors who were of the opinion that given the popularity of the exhibition, the organisers should include meetings where exhibitors and other stakeholders discuss issues affecting their sector.

  • Stakeholder experience issues

The bygone year also brought to the fore the issue of stakeholder experience during business events. The ZITF Company, which organises the annual international exhibition, the ZITF, demonstrated its commitment to positive stakeholder experiences by disclosing its efforts in this regard during a ZITF preparations update in March. The Company’s Chairman, Busisa Moyo indicated that his entity was holding meetings with other critical players like customs authorities, local airlines and the hospitality industry to ensure a seamless exhibition experience for our participants.

On the other hand, two exhibitions which were held at the beginning of October in Harare exposed how some organisers seemed not to care much about exhibitors’ concerns and experiences. At both shows exhibitors lost half of the first day as the organisers were still putting up stands over five hours into the first day of the shows. For one event, which was running for two days, this meant that exhibitors lost almost a quarter of the time they had paid for. At the other show, exhibitors were exposed to the sun as the modular shell scheme stands they were allocated did not have any overhead cover to shelter them from the elements.

  •  Human capital and training

The former ZITF Company Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Stella Nkomo left the parastatal when she was appointed ambassador to India in April. Apart from her Deputy CEO duties, Ambassador Nkomo led the Company’s marketing department.

The yawning gap between the professional way that some events like the ADMA AgriShow are organised and the two Harare shows referred above points to the need for continuous learning on the part of local exhibition and event organisers.

As the year came to an end, a Harare-based local educational institution, Trust Academy announced the introduction of an Events Management Diploma, which it will be offering effective this month in conjunction with the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT). Successful students will be eligible to proceed to study for a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Event Management with CUT. The development adds to a number of such initiatives as events stakeholders seek to improve the quality of the people managing and planning events. In March the Zimbabwe Association of Business Communicators (ZABC) announced the introduction of a certified Master of Ceremonies (MCs) course to sharpen master of ceremonies’ skills and improve their craft. Last year MAZ introduced an event management certificate course.

  • Venues

In terms of venues, the year witnessed the completion of new venues in Bulawayo and Harare. In April the ZBC reported that the 6 400-seater Harare Hippodrome was ready to host events although finishing touches continued for the remainder of the year and the venue is yet to be officially opened.

In December, President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially opened the Harvest House International Church-owned Harvest House International Conference Centre. The building has a 10 500-seater conference facility. The building also includes other facilities such as a gymnasium, a food court, a medical centre and a pharmacy.

Apart from the improved road infrastructure in some parts of Harare, the capital city also benefitted from the major refurbishment of the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre, since opening in 1985. The hotel was revamped ahead of the 44h SADC Summit and the SADC 7th Industrialisation Week, which were held in Zimbabwe in July and August. The hotel and conference centre hosted some of the delegates and events that were held as part of the regional event.

Towards the end of the year, the NewsDay reported that the Rainbow Tourism Group, which also owns the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre, agreed to acquire Montclair Hotel and Casino from Briolette Services (Private) Limited for US$5 million. The hotel boasts of 85 rooms and four conferencing rooms, which can seat up to 620 delegates.

A peek at 2025

As the new year commences, Business Events projects an increase in the number of business events during the course of 2025. Given that awards rake in money, the market is set to witness an increase in the number of award events and for as long as award processes and criteria remain shrouded in secrecy, controversy is going to be part of the country’s award ceremonies.

In view of the increasing number of Zimbabweans in the diaspora and the need to lure more foreign investors to the economy, this year is likely to witness more events being held in foreign countries to target citizens in the diaspora and potential foreign investors.

ESG and sustainability issues are here to stay. This is set to see more ESG and sustainability-related business events during the course of this year.  Relatedly, the year is likely to witness a push for sustainable event practices by some events professionals with a heart for sustainable business practices.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Business Awards

Concerns over awards integrity mount

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

It is awards season and the market continues to raise the red flag over some awards which are being given to some people in Zimbabwe.

In this regard, Tigzozo Media founder Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kudzai Tinago, raised the matter again this year when he took to LinkedIn at the end of November to express his concerns over the way some awards are being run. In his post, Tinago questioned the idea of award recipients having to pay in order to win the awards.

“It’s that time of the year where people are graduating, receiving business awards, and you are seated there thinking, “Am I working hard enough?” Then, boom, an email comes to you and says congratulations you have been nominated to receive the….award of the year. Excited you opens and accepts the call, then the next thing you hear is, for the award ceremony event, you need to pay $300 for your dinner or $5 000 for your corporate table. My friend, at this stage, you are now a customer not an award recipient,” Tinago posted.

Tinago described the process as a rip off given that it ran at a tangent with the way awards are run globally.

“Such award scams have been in existence for a long time and are still on the rise in recent times. Let us be realistic that we should not be asked to foot the bill if we are legitimately getting an award for some recognition. Do not be confused with sponsorships, that is sponsoring an event. If one is actively involved in the local community and willing to pay to sponsor an event and have the company’s name in light that is legitimate. These vanity awards are offered by unknown entities and have no connection with one’s community or business,” he said.

The communications and story teller advised that any award where the winner is asked to pay should be ignored.

“I recently got four emails, and it’s a big fat no for me. If I have to pay, I’m buying not earning. Thank you. If you are presented with an email offering you an award, it goes without saying that you should ignore it. Remember: Real awards don’t cost money,” Tinago wrote.

Tinago’s post generated responses with many people agreeing with him.

Leadership consultant, Christopher Sithole concurred with him and advised other professionals on how to handle award organisations offering awards in exchange for money.

 “You’re so right Kudzai Tinago. Two things stand out for me as the deciding factors. That is the awardee or recipient’s credibility and the awarding institution’s credibility. Before you accept the award, do some self-introspection.  Do you honestly believe that you did so exceptionally well that you deserve that lofty recognition? If you hesitate for a bit then don’t ruin your reputation over the award.

Then, check on the track record of the awarding institution or those behind it. Have they achieved anything worth associating with or they want to make their name through you?” Sithole responded.

Sithole’s advice tallied with businesswoman, Dr Divine Ndhlukula’s counsel on the same matter. In December last year, Dr Ndhlukula posted on her LinkedIn page that in November the previous year she received an email from the Ireland-based Business Excellence Institute (BEX) checking if she was agreeable to being nominated for induction into the Excellence Hall of Fame.

“I did my background checks to see if this was a credible organisation. I accepted to be nominated and that was duly done by a Fellow of BEX, Dianne Tyers, Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development Dean at Dalhousie University of Canada,” she posted.

It turned out that her nomination was not from the blue. It was based on her track record as a businesswoman.

“Interestingly, in 2017 she (Tyers) had done a study on “Understanding the cross-cultural and cross-linguistics experiences of women entrepreneurs” and had come across my name then,” the businesswoman said.

Cutting a long story short, Dr Ndhlukula was inducted together with other global business greats like Virgin Unite President and CEO, Jean Oelwaneng.

Journalist and communication expert, Rachel Kwainona blamed local professionals’ gullibility to the rogue award givers’overtures to their hunger for awards.

“Well said Kudzai and as Zimbabweans we are obsessed with awards. It’s like a disease at this point! The outrageous amounts one has to pay for an award I laugh! They can keep their award,” she weighed in.

Health Times Editor, Michael Gwarisa concurred with Tinago.

“The moment you are required to pay in order to be honoured then it ceases to be an award. Period.” He said.

Award-winning businessman and author, Jonathan Ralph Kadurira also agreed with Tinago that award recipients should not pay for awards.

“By God’s grace I have received some awards for my work… I never paid anything for them. And now each time I get an email for these awards (organisers) which ask me to pay some fee it’s an automatic No because I am like, I once got all these without paying, so why pay for this one. And also there are other awards by these “shady” organisations that I have also declined because you will notice that the award may even tarnish your brand than it adds value to it,” he said.

Mike Panashe Mberi, a Pan-Africanist, contended that charging for participating in some awards is justified to meet the costs of running them.

“I think it’s also worth acknowledging that not all awards requiring payment are scams. For example, events like the Met Gala, Grammy Awards, and BET Awards often involve costs for attendance or participation. These fees aren’t about ‘buying’ the recognition but covering substantial costs like venue hire, production, catering, and other logistics to create a high-calibre event. In these cases, the funds directly contribute to maintaining the quality and prestige of the awards.

Bright Ewuru wrote an interesting piece on this topic and highlighted that legitimate programmes often charge entry fees to fund proper administration, marketing, credible judging panels, and meaningful prizes. Of course, the key is transparency. Participants should know where their money is going and feel like they’re getting value, whether they win or not,” Mberi opined.

Media executive, Kim Sibanda agreed with Mberi and hoped that someday, local awards will be funded mostly by sponsors as was the case before so that winners would not feel like they are buying awards.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Business Awards

Using awards for benchmarking performance: The case of ZINARA

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

For many marketing and public relations professionals winning awards means getting rewarded and recognised for one’s efforts in their trade, but for the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) Corporate Communications and Marketing Executive, Tsungie Matiure-Manyeza and her team it means much more. To them winning an award is more than third party endorsement for themselves and the ZINARA brand. It means a new baseline on which to benchmark future performance.

We reproduce below Matiure-Manyeza’s recent LinkedIn post in which explained how she and her team use awards to benchmark their performance against previous achievements and against the performance of other brands in their league.   

Benchmarking – leveraging parallels to improve personal standards!

Last month, my beloved Team Excellence ZINARA had the spectacular honour to take to the podium, not once, not twice but three times, to receive honours in marketing and public relations at the National Exceptional Awards 2024 by the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ).

We celebrate this stellar achievement which, for us, sets our new baseline, and we are now working towards even greater.

In my view, awards platforms are benchmarking platforms where greats are not only celebrated, but exceptional standards are illuminated for the purposes of improving overall industry or sector performance.

We submitted a total of seven project profiles for the awards and clinched only three – less than 50 percent? Well, what it has made of us is unquantifiable.   Success is now what you achieve but who you become while working towards the achievement!

As we prepared our submissions we knew we were trying our hand against giants, but this did not hold us back, because we have come to understand that we move up by looking up. We set our standards based not only on our former self, but on the greats in the marketplace. We benchmark!

Over the past year, my team and I have been benchmarking in three ways

Internal benchmarking

We are part of a high performance organisation, from the board to the shop floor – ours is a high performance team. As such, we continually glean on the ways of working of our peers to inspire how we too develop as individuals and as a team. To this end, we were excited to take home the PR Practitioner of the Year award by yours truly.

Competitive benchmarking

We put ourselves side by side with the greats in our sector. We are learning from both the good and not so great to inspire how we can improve. We also initiate peer reviews for our work and we enjoy the collaboration in our sector, and especially in our parent Ministry. We walked away with the Excellence in Public Sector Marketing of the Year gong!

Strategic benchmarking

For me this has always been the game changer throughout my career – benchmarking with other sectors and industries. I have observed that there are some sectors that excel in some areas and by benchmarking against these, we peg our standards higher and improve as we try to match.  We were, therefore, excited to bag the Gold Award for Best Radio Informercial of the year in a category that was dominated by private sector players in retail, banking and insurance sectors among others.

Benchmarking is not a competitive act, but a self-development activity for self-improvement. It is not only about observing and appreciating the higher standards, but acting on them.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Business Awards

MAZ readying Exceptional Marketing Awards 2024

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

The Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) is set to host the 2024 edition of the Exceptional Marketing Awards (EMAs) on 13 September at the Cresta Lodge and Sango Conference Centre in Harare.

According to the 2024 EMAs information pack, the EMAs recognise organisations and individuals who have successfully initiated marketing efforts to build reputable brands and companies. The overarching goal of EMA is to honour organisations, marketers, sales executives, brand managers, public relations practitioners, and other professionals in the marketing industry who have exhibited exceptional marketing prowess and, at the same time, demonstrated professionalism at the highest level.

Two weeks ago the MAZ invited stakeholders to submit entries in 27 awards categories. The call for entries closed on 15 August. The nomination process marks the beginning of a process run by four groups of people.

The award drivers

The first group is made up of the adjudication committee. This year’s awards adjudicators 10-member team is being led by renowned marketer and former MAZ President and trustee, Dr Ruth Ncube (pictured). The roles of the adjudication committee include overseeing the EMAs research process, making changes and recommendations, giving strategic input into the process and ensuring independence and transparency.

The second driver of the awards process is the research partner. Topline Research Solutions (TRS) is this year’s research partner for the awards. Events such as awards require resources to organise and hold them. This is where other key players in the process – sponsors – come in. Some of the sponsors that have already come on board include Dairibord Zimbabwe, Econet Wireless, Nemchem, Capitalk 100.4 FM, ZiFM Stereo, Premier Corporate Gifts, Showcase It, Proton Bakery, the Nyaradzo Group and ZTN Prime, The Financial Gazette and 3KTV among others. At the time of publishing, sponsorship opportunities for the event were still open.

The last team which oversees the EMAs process and the award ceremony is a select group of MAZ staff, who are charged with organising the process and event in conjunction with the adjudication team and the research partner.

The EMAs process

The annual EMAs awards ceremony is a culmination of several stages and processes. The first stage involves establishing the criteria for choosing nominees in each category. The adjudication team determines and states the specific criteria to be used for the selection process

The second stage involves the call for the submission of entries, which is open to all individuals and organisations, regardless of the industry or sector they operate in. MAZ encourages contestants to enter the award categories which are most relevant to their work and achievements. Since last year, at this stage MAZ issues a Call for Entries Booklet. This awards information pack spells out the awards categories as well as the criteria and scoring metrics for each category. The document also provides advice on how contestants can improve the chances of their entries succeeding.

The third stage of the EMAs process is the evaluation of the submitted entries. In this stage, the adjudication committee thoroughly evaluates all submitted entries. They allocate scores to the submitted materials based on how well they meet the pre-established criteria for each award category. This rigorous and meticulous evaluation process ensures a fair and comprehensive assessment of the submissions.

The evaluation stage is followed by the adjudication of the results. During this stage the adjudication panel conducts further analysis, taking into account the organisation and individual achievements during the year under review. The Panel makes a critical analysis to ensure that organisations and individuals are not just awarded because they are popular or well-known, but are recognised because of their impact or notable achievements during the marketing year running from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024.

It’s awards night!

The final stage of the EMAs process is the annual awards night where winners are announced and handed their awards amid pomp, fanfare and ceremony. The dress code for this year’s edition of the event is ethnic glam, with a touch of Zimbabwean colours

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Business Awards

IATF honoured at the Marriott Awards of Excellence

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

The continental showcase, the Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) was honoured by the Marriott Awards of Excellence for its successful hosting of the third IATF in Egypt last year.

“We’re thrilled to announce that IATF has been honoured by Marriot International in recognition of the success of the IATF 2023 (held) in Cairo and our significant contributions to the tourism industry. This achievement underscores our commitment to fostering growth and resilience across Africa,” the organisers of the event posted on its LinkedIn page last week.  .

The IATF described the award as a demonstration of its commitment and support of its stakeholders in hosting the event.

“The award is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our entire team, as well as the unwavering support of our partners and stakeholders. Together, we’ve made significant strides in driving economic growth,” the IATF posted.

Each year, the Marriott Awards of Excellence recognises the “best of the best” at Marriott International. Established in 1987 and named after the founder of the hospitality brand, the J. Willard Marriott Award of Excellence honours the company’s finest associates who represent the characteristics of the award: achievement, character, dedication, effort and perseverance.

Additionally, four group awards acknowledge outstanding corporate citizenship, diversity and inclusion efforts, excellence in demonstrating the company’s core values and creating a TakeCare culture of health and well-being.

IATF is an initiative of the African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Union (AU), which was put in place to drive intra-African trade and a vehicle to operationalise the African Continental Free Trade Area. It held its first trade fair in Cairo, Egypt, in 2018. The second edition of the event was held in Durban, South Africa in 2021.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Business AwardsConferences/MeetingsExhibitionsOrganisersSuppliersVenues

The 2023 business events year in retrospect

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

As we welcome 2024, we look back at 2023, the year that started with the business events market looking forward to fruitfulness and productivity as the Covid19 pandemic took a back seat to give way to face-to-face eventing again. It was a year that witnessed some improvements in existing events and the introduction of new ones.

Awards

While the market continued to complain about awards whose selection criteria and judging processes were not transparent and award ceremonies where awardees were asked to pay for “tables,” there was a noticeable effort to rectify these anomalies. For example, those who told targeted “recipients” of awards to pay as much as US$300 for a “table” as part of the conditions for winning awards changed tact. In their correspondence to winners, the “tables” issues were presented as optional thereby making the aspect appear more acceptable.

During the year, some award organisers responded to the market’s concerns by communicating their award selection criteria and addressing other contentious issues. Although the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ)’s Exceptional Marketing Awards (EMAs) were not the subject of complaints, the association rejigged, revamped and rebranded the event and enhanced the transparency of its processes by providing the market with more information on the awards. The awards were expanded to include more categories.

Instead of a one-pager call for entries, the association came up with a 30-page booklet with all the information that both participants and other stakeholders needed about the event. This included the criteria, scoring and the judges, who were led by renowned marketer, Dr Douglas Mamvura. Until 2022, the awards used to be part of the annual MAZ Marketers Convention. Apart from making them a stand-alone event, the association also revived the decentralisation of the event to provinces, an initiative that it started in 2021, to ensure that as many marketers and companies as possible benefitted.  

Similarly, the Contact Centre Association of Zimbabwe (CCAZ) carried out a survey in August to solicit feedback from stakeholders on the 2022 edition of its annual Service Excellence Awards to improve the event experience for the attendees of the 2023 edition which was held in October.

One of the complaints, that the market had about awards was the kind of events where individuals were just announced as, say top 40 under 40 people in Zimbabwe, with no information relating to the criteria used to select and adjudge them as winners. The Business Connect newspaper received some flak in this regard for its Iconic Men, Iconic Women and Pacesetters Awards. In November the publication invited nominees. The communication also included the nomination criteria which included the demonstration of leadership and its impact on business.

During the year, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) in association with the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) introduced the Twalumba National Travel and Tourism Awards, whose debut was in March in Harare.

When Business Events interviewed the then Megafest Holdings Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tafadzwa Matsika, whose company runs the Megafest business awards, back in 2021, he said the main purpose of the Megafest Awards was to cheerlead the industry. Since 2021, when the Nyaradzo Group, celebrated its 20th anniversary, the company has been using its social media pages to celebrate and cheerlead Zimbabwean award winners, and 2023 was no different.

Conferences and meetings

Many annual professional body and business membership organisation conferences such as and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) were held during the year. The meetings brought to the fore the fact that organisers of such events are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that their meetings are experiential brands that should be planned as such. The MAZ Annual Marketers Convention which was held at the end of October in Victoria Falls received a lot of praise from delegates and speakers alike because of the way the organisers addressed conference brand touch points such as speakers, moderators, breakaway sessions, side activities networking opportunities and conference giveaways. The event was preceded by a survey to establish delegates’ concerns and preferences and the effort paid off. Stakeholders also praised the event’s wowsome and world-class stage which was supplied by Passion Events.

Another annual conference that received rave reviews is the CEO Africa Roundtable annual conference which was also held during the last quarter of the year in the Victoria Falls resort city. The event was lauded for its thought-provoking panels, valuable insights and networking opportunities.

Zimbabwe also hosted international business conferences such as the Transform Africa Summit that was held from 26 to 28 April in Victoria Falls. Although the event is organised by the Smart Africa Alliance, a body of countries that aim to become more competitive, open, smart and innovative economies, many private businesses, especially from the technology sector participated in the event which was described by many as well organised. While the event was billed as a meeting, it turned out to be a confex as it also had a concurrent exhibition which many local tech firms participated in. The private sector players also participated in the event as exhibitors and resource persons.

The rise of ESG in eventing

The rise in the need for sustainable business practices and the introduction of the environmental, society and governance (ESG) concept saw it becoming an in-thing in eventing during the year under review. For example, the theme of the 2023 MAZ Superbrand Awards theme, which was held on 1 December 2023, was: “Anchoring brand success on ESG.”   The association’s Annual Continuous Professional Development Masterclass which took place in Nyanga in July was held under the theme: “ESG impact on economic growth.”

In June, Corporate Social Responsibility Network Zimbabwe (CSR Network Zimbabwe), which was formed in 2016 to advance the principles of sustainability and social responsibility, rebranded to Environment, Social and Governance Network Zimbabwe (ESGNZ) “to reflect the current realities in the global sustainability space.” This means that the network’s events that carried the old name had to be re-named to reflect the new name. For example, the Zimbabwe Annual CSR and Responsible Business Achievement Awards were re-named the Zimbabwe Annual ESG and Responsible Business Achievement Awards.

Exhibitions

Most regular exhibitions such as the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and the provincial agricultural shows that fall under the National Association of Show Societies of Zimbabwe (NASSZ) were held without incident.

The ZITF continued to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic during the year. This was revealed by the ZITF Company Marketing and Corporate Communications Officer, Doreen Dzamatira in a Zoom event organised by MAZ in June. Visitor numbers went up 26 percent from 59 022 in 2019 to 74 294 in 2023. In terms of local exhibitor numbers Harare continued to dominate as the major source of exhibitors given its capital city status.

It is important to note that during the trade fair, the ZITF Company worked with a research company, Total Research Solutions which worked on the figures given above as more and more event organisers continue to involve research companies in their events to come up with event statistics which other stakeholders such as exhibitor and sponsors can use in making decisions that are related to leveraging events for marketing purposes.

During the year, the ZITF Company deferred the Mining, Engineering and Transport (MineEntra) exhibition from its traditional July slot to November as this coincided with the elections season. This also saw the company postponing to this year the Africa Infrastructure and the Built Environment Confex (AfriConfex), A new construction exhibition, Buildex which digital marketing agency, Sabistar Digital (Pvt) Ltd, intended to introduce to the market in June had to be moved to March this year because of the same reason.

Training

The increasing number of both business and social or lifestyle events in Zimbabwe brought with it demand for qualified event professionals who can deliver high-quality events. This means that there is a need for more institutions offering event planning and management training in addition to tertiary institutions like the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), which has been offering an academic degree in event management since 2019, as well as Speciss College and others.

In June, the MAZ Business Institute introduced a professional event planning course to equip marketers and event professionals with skills to plan and manage events.

Venues and accommodation

Following the holding of the Transform Africa Summit in Victoria Falls in April there were some media reports to the effect that the event and the Victoria Falls Carnival, which was held on the heels of the summit, exposed the fact that Zimbabwe’s push to host international meetings under the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA)’s “Meet in Zimbabwe” meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) campaign could be hampered by inadequate conferencing and accommodation facilities.

The reports cited the closure of the Kingdom Hotel at the end of 2022 following a disagreement between the property owners, Makasa Sun and the First Capital Bank, and tenant, African Sun, over lease tenure. According to reports, Victoria Falls city is home to 2000 of Zimbabwe’s total of 6 000 accommodation rooms. The reports quoted tourism experts who pointed out that the country needed 20 000 rooms by 2030 to match the growing tourism trajectory. This presents an investment opportunity for the construction of accommodation and conferencing facilities.

While the trend where most major conferences are held in either Nyanga or Victoria Falls persisted during the year, it was noted that Harare event venues like the Golden Conifer Functions Venue, Manna Resorts, and Zimbali Gardens were also popular with some event planners. For example, while CEO Africa Round Table held its annual conference in Victoria Falls, the entity chose Zimbali Gardens for its annual banquet where it launched its Business Confidence Report. Other events which were held in such venues include the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) Annual Congress, which was held at Manna Resorts, and the launch of the State of the Service Economy Survey (SOSES) Report that was hosted by the Golden Conifer Functions Venue.

These venues are preferred for smaller events because of their intimate nature. The small size of some events makes the venues a natural choice. CZI Membership Marketing and Communications Manager, Conrad Choruma also hinted to Business Events that some event attendees were tired of Nyanga and Victoria Falls.

Although Victoria Falls hotels remain the preferred venues for business and international events, the resort city requires more and bigger event venues. The closure of the Kingdom Hotel at the beginning of the year took with it the hotel’s 900-seater conference facility, which was the largest in the city followed by those at the Elephant Hills Hotel, whose capacity is close to 600 people.

During the year, one events planner and marketer, Simbarashe Mukondo pointed out that Harare required bigger and more modern event venues given that the Rainbow Towers and Conference Centre, while still the largest venue at 4 500 seating capacity, urgently required refurbishment. The City of Harare-owned 4 000-seater City Sports Centre is not in the best state of repair.

The market is now looking forward to the opening of the 6 350-seater Harare Hippodrome Conference Centre which is under construction in Harare’s Braeside suburb. The Herald newspaper tweeted in March that the venue, which is owned by Spirit Embassy leader, Uebert Angel, was expected to open in May. At the time of compiling this article, the final phase of the construction of the venue was ongoing and some events such as the church’s year-end Exodus Night event were held at the venue at the end of December. In November the venue also hosted the Spirit of Praise Zimbabwe Tour by South African artistes.

Looking into 2024, the market is set to see the introduction of the Buildex show in March and other new events such as the Build Expo which is set to debut at the Business Hub (formerly Harare Showground) in March as well.

The events market is also looking forward to the opening of the Harare Hippodrome Conference Centre to increase events venue choices for Harare business, arts and social events.

The introduction of ESG to the business events industry is set to result in the growth of the concept from being a we-too addition to business events to an integral part of event planning. In this regard, some planners have invested in the concept and stand ready to assist others in integrating ESG in event planning and management.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Business Awards

MAZ introduces Manicaland marketing awards

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

In its quest to grow and reach out to all its members, the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) is introducing the Manicaland Top Brands & Marketing Excellence Awards.

The awards are set to be held at the Holiday Inn hotel in Mutare on 15 September 2023 under the theme “Igniting creativity and growth for brand success”.

The awards are aimed at recognising organisations and individuals in Manicaland province who have successfully initiated marketing efforts to build reputable brands and companies.

The awards are part of the annual Exceptional Marketing Awards (EMAs) that the association has been running over the past years.

MAZ board member, Carol White, is billed to be the guest of honour at the awards.

In 2021, MAZ decided to decentralise the EMA awards to regional and provincial awards in order to recognise marketing efforts by regional or provincial executives whose campaigns might not make it into the national awards.

MAZ Executive Secretary, Gillian Rusike (pictured) said the Association was excited to be hosting the first edition of the Manicaland Top Brands and Marketing Excellence Awards.

“MAZ is an association with a membership base drawn from across Zimbabwe and beyond and in order for us to recognise and know our members, we decided to decentralise the EMA awards to provincial awards.

We realised that there are a lot of marketers and executives doing well in the provinces who need recognition for the development of marketing orientation in all regions,” said Rusike.

He highlighted that the decentralisation of the EMA awards began in 2021 in Bulawayo and the move was welcomed by many hence, the association would continue to move to the regions.

Buttercup Margarine is the title sponsor for the awards ceremony, however, MAZ has indicated that several sponsorship packages were available.

Categories to be awarded at the awards are;

1.       Best Video / TV advert of the Year 2023

2.       Best Radio Advert of the Year 2023

3.       Best Print Advert of the Year 2023

4.       Best Outdoor Advert of the Year 2023

5.       Best Social Media and Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year 2023

6.       Best Customer Experience of the Year 2023

7.       Best Marketing-Oriented SME of the Year 2023

8.       Best Corporate Social Responsibility of the Year 2023

9.       Best Regional Consumer Brand of the Year 2023

10.     Best Regional Corporate Brand of the Year 2023

11.     Regional Marketing Champion of the Year 2023

The national Exceptional Marketing Awards have been slated for 29 September 2023 in Harare. 2023.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Business Awards

AMC invites nominations for inaugural awards

by Editorial Team
written by Editorial Team

The African Marketing Confederation (AMC) is set to introduce marketing awards during its second annual conference which is pencilled to run from 6 to 9 September in Uganda. The confederation revealed this in an information pack that it released last week.

“As part of the 2nd Annual African Marketing Confederation Conference, taking place from 6th to 9th September at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel in the enchanting city of Entebbe, Uganda, this gala ceremony promises to be a remarkable gathering of visionaries and trailblazers in the marketing industry.

“Since its inception in 2011, the African Marketing Confederation has been at the forefront of revolutionising the marketing profession across Africa. Representing a ground breaking Pan-African body of marketing professionals, the AMC fosters collaboration between national marketing member bodies and associations, facilitating the exchange of expertise and knowledge while elevating the standards of marketing excellence across the continent. With a shared commitment to fostering growth and prosperity, the African Marketing Confederation Awards stand as a testament to the continent’s vibrant marketing landscape and the exceptional talents driving its success.

“(The) awards stand as a testament to the continent’s vibrant marketing landscape and the exceptional talents driving its success,” the African marketing body said.

The marketing body described ideal AMC Marketing Professional of the Year as epitomising a seasoned expert who integrates strategic thinking, creativity, and astute business acumen to propel marketing triumph and contribute significantly to organisational growth and profitability.

The AMC is inviting nominations from member associations as part of the awards process.

“We are looking for the ‘best of the best’ and encourage all AMC member association members to nominate the individuals you think should be recognised and deserving of a chance to be the AMC Marketing Professional of the Year 2023. All nominations will be judged by the AMC judging panel made up of marketing professionals and academics across the continent,” the continental marketing body said.

Entry for the awards is open to all marketing professionals in member countries who meet the entry criteria as outlined in this document.

The AMC described a typical marketing professional who qualifies for nomination as an individual who possesses or has possessed an elevated position within an organisation, specialising in the realm of marketing and is commonly referred to as a senior marketing professional.

They are distinguished by their extensive experience and remarkable proficiency in their field. The primary responsibilities of these individuals encompass the formulation and execution of strategic marketing plans, the management of marketing campaigns, and the facilitation of business expansion through the implementation of effective marketing strategies.

Additionally, nominees should be marketers who exhibit a profound comprehension of prevailing market trends, consumer behaviour patterns, and the competitive landscapes within their respective industries. They are expected to possess knowledge in various marketing channels, including digital marketing, social media, advertising, branding, and market research. The nominees should be people who showcase outstanding leadership abilities, which would enable them to effectively lead and oversee teams, offer guidance and mentor junior marketers.

The awards have two categories namely the        AMC Marketing Professional of the Year and the AMC Young Professional Marketer of the Year with the latter being open to marketing professionals between the ages of 25 to 35 years.

Founded in 2011, the AMC is a collaboration between African national marketing bodies and associations to exchange expertise and information, and to promote the marketing profession as a whole. Its founding members were the Institute of Marketing Management (IMM) of South Africa, the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ), the Zambian Institute of Marketing (ZIM), the Marketing Society of Kenya (MSK), the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) and the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN).

Over the years, other national marketing associations such as the Institute of Marketing in Malawi (IMM), the Institute of Marketing and Management Mauritius (IMM), the Moroccan Association of Marketing and Communications (AMMC) and the Ugandan Marketing Society (UMS) joined the confederation.

The inaugural AMC annual conference was held in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls resort city last year. 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts