adminat the Buy Zimbabwe Day on Wednesday this week.
I would also like to thank NECF executive secretary Mr Amos Mushaninga for his unwavering support during the organisation of this event.
That the event was a success is not something that we get pleasure from alone as Buy Zimbabwe but we also share with co-operating institutions the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce,
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, Standards Association of Zimbabwe and, of course, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries.
However, the success of the event belongs mainly to local business and consumers as the ultimate beneficiaries of the Buy Zimbabwe Day. The Buy Zimbabwe Day is designed to ensure an effective interface between local business and consumers. This will ensure that consumers get to know exactly the products that are offered locally and make their demands known to business.
The following businesses deserve to be given a pat on the shoulder for using the Buy Zimbabwe platform to get in touch with their consumers:
- AVM Africa (Pvt) Ltd
- Beta Bricks
- Blue Ribbon Foods
- Capri
- Karina
- Nico Orgo
- Obel Petroleum
- Spiritage
- Zesa Enterprises
- Schweppes
- Medical Air Rescues Services
- GMB
- Zimpapers
- National Foods
- OK Zimbabwe
- Willowvale
- Travan Blankets
- Olivine
The companies came out in their numbers as a sign of their desire of creating a vibrant business sector that will in more than one way benefit the local economy.
As Buy Zimbabwe we are proud to have successfully launched a designer insignia that promises to be the centre of this vibrancy. It also depicts pride, Zimbabweaness, strength, quality and exuberance. What Government officials, business executives, leaders of business associations and national bodies and consumers alike witnessed is the country of origin logo which shall be the most recognisable and used logo in the country.
Local companies that qualify to use this logo on their products qualify based on the following criteria:
- Quality
- Minimum local content stipulation;
- Adherence to the country’s labour laws; and
- Environmental awareness.
The process of justifying each company’s qualification to be a partner of Buy Zimbabwe will be stringent to ensure that only deserving companies have access to use this logo on their products. Each product has its own qualification criteria. Products that gain the right to use the Buy Zimbabwe insignia become part of what promises to be a huge “Six for hundred” promotional campaign which not only gives prominence to the insignia but assures each product of increased visibility in the electronic, print and outdoor media.
Buy Zimbabwe as a competitiveness driver believes in the aggressive marketing of the insignia throughout each year. Through the insignia, local companies will benefit from winning visibility solutions and positive profiling offered as part of the Buy Zimbabwe package.
By earning the right to use the Buy Zimbabwe certification standard local companies receive up to US$100 000 promotional support per annum. This will definitely be critical for any company wishing to reduce its marketing spend while at the same time increasing their visibility in the media. The strength of this principle is based on the strength of local companies coming together with a common vision of increasing their competitiveness in the face of a growing influx of foreign alternatives.
I was really inspired to hear Minister Nguni say: “Buy Zimbabwe comes at an appropriate moment in our country’s history when there is a collective realisation that for us to improve our lot, we need to act unison, taking each viewpoint into consideration.”
If local companies come together against unfair competitive practice from products that compete unfairly, for example, the option to buy local will definitely succeed in a competitive environment.
Mr Tendai Mavima, the deputy president of ZNCC who spoke on behalf of Buy Zimbabwe interim chairperson Mrs Grace Muradzikwa, applauded the country’s champions who include Mazoe, Capri and Buttercup have led the process of being a proud Zimbabwean brand. I am certain that the three brands that were also part of the exhibition must have felt confident about their product offering.
It is such brands that should take the lead and share their experiences to help grow our market. To everyone who attended the Buy Zimbabwe Day I wish to close by saying thank you. It is time for us to support each other as a country and be more proud of what we make that we can comfortably exhibit again during the Buy Zimbabwe week just like we did at the Africa Unity Square on Wednesday.
Till next week. God Bless.
For comments, contributions and membership contact Buy Zimbabwe on: [email protected]@gmail.com Cell: 0772 714 233 Or visit 22 Broadlands Road Mount Pleasant Harare – Website: www.buyzimbabwe.org.zw
Online Reporter