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Mutsawashe Mashandure, Herald Correspondent
BUY Zimbabwe and the Content Creators Association of Zimbabwe (COCAZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at leveraging social media influence to drive sales and visibility of locally made goods.
The partnership, which was formalised in Harare yesterday, seeks to harness the power of over 400 influencers with a combined reach of more than five million followers to market Zimbabwean products and create sustainable employment opportunities for young creatives.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Buy Zimbabwe chairman and chief executive Munyaradzi Hwengwere said there is strength in collaboration.
“Today, we signed an MOU with Content Creators Association of Zimbabwe to utilise the influence of our content creators in marketing local products. This initiative ensures that we keep our money within Zimbabwe while creating sustainable employment for our members.”
Mr Hwengere said content creators are a vital sector in the marketing of local products.
“The challenge has always been ensuring that Zimbabweans know about the quality and affordability of local products. This partnership with COCAZ allows us to reach a wider audience and promote the message that buying local supports job creation and economic growth.”
The MOU outlines a commission based revenue-sharing model where COCAZ members will earn a percentage of sales generated through their marketing efforts.
“The agreement includes joint marketing campaigns, capacity-building workshops, and the appointment of COCAZ members as brand ambassadors for Buy Zimbabwe products,” said Mr Hwengwere.
The MOU will remain in effect for five years, with both parties committed to fostering a collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership.
“Every time you buy an imported product, you are taking away wealth from this country. This partnership ensures that we speak to a listening audience about the value of local products and services,” said Mr Hwengwere.
He stressed that the initiative is expected to not only boost the visibility of Zimbabwean products but also empower young content creators, contributing to the growth of the creative industry and the broader economy.
Mr Wellington Bakaimani, chief executive officer of COCAZ, said the initiative will help keep wealth within the country and create sustainable employment for content creators.
“We are promoting local products to ensure that we keep our money within Zimbabwe. At the same time, we are also creating sustainable employment for our members.
“We are developing a portfolio where our members can benefit from issues related to medical aid, funeral insurance, and the opportunity to gain ambassadorial roles for our local products in Zimbabwe.”
Mr Bakaimani said the MOU was essential as it opens employment opportunities for the youth.
“By creating these opportunities, we are literally generating employment in the creative industry. The creative industry is a significant sector where we want more young people to enter.
“We are absorbing all of them to ensure there are opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and to help them monetise their content so they can earn a living from it,” he said.
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