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Herald Reporter
Zimbabweans are pressing ahead with efforts to develop their country bit-by-bit and should consider producing the best products instead of waiting for foreigners to do so, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, has said.
She said this in a speech read on her behalf by her deputy, Kindness Paradza, last night at the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe SuperBrands awards ceremony in Harare.
Sen Mutsvangwa said it was important for citizens to fully embrace President Mnangagwa’s mantra, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo”, for them to be more successful.
“As the nation glides towards the achievement of Vision 2030, this event is one of many that reminds us of the perseverance and willingness of Zimbabweans to build their country stone upon stone, brick by brick, as His Excellency President Mnangagwa always says; ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’,” she said.
“If we don’t produce the best products and services ourselves, no one will do that for us.”
The awards were held under the theme, “Brand relevance and dominance in the age of the new customer”.
Sen Mutsvangwa said branding was critical in this era where the customer was no longer passive, but well-informed and had various choices to make from the wider world due to the proliferation of ICTs.
She said companies should produce brands that were relevant to customers all the time as the consumers had been empowered and can air their views through social media.
“Social media has given brand custodians the power to build or destroy brands,” said Sen Mutsvangwa.
“As the brand custodians and marketers, let us ensure that we are on top of the game.
“With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world witnessed the power of social media. Social media taught us to shift from the conventional ways of relaying information to supplying customers with information in real time.”
Zimbabwe has made strides and signed a number of trade agreements with other African countries, she said, and urged local companies to build brands that go across borders.
The development has been necessitated through the ‘Zimbabwe is open for business mantra’.
“We implore you to follow up the channels opened up for trade to take brand Zimbabwe to the shelves of other countries,” said Sen Mutsvangwa.
A number of companies were rewarded for their efforts to improve their brands at the event, with Zimbabwe’s premier daily paper, The Herald, emerging winner in the print media sector for SuperBrand 2022.
Edgars Stores Limited and Impala Car Hire, were some of the companies recognised during the awards ceremony.
Online Reporter