The National Exceptional Marketing Awards (NEMA) are an annual celebration of marketing excellence in Zimbabwe, recognizing standout achievements in creativity, innovation, and execution. Organized by the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ), these awards spotlight the companies and individuals who have shaped the marketing landscape over the past year. The 2024 event, held on September 13th at Cresta Lodge in Harare, brought together industry professionals to acknowledge the best in digital marketing, customer experience, and more. Here’s a quick rundown of the key awards relevant to digital marketing and innovation.
1. Best Social Media and Digital Marketing Campaigns of 2024
- Old Mutual took home the Platinum Award for their O’mari for Mahala USD Wallet Promotion, showcasing a powerful fusion of finance and digital marketing.
- EcoCash Private Limited secured the Gold Award for their impactful Zvakabhadhara neEcoCash campaign, a social media success story.
- Lobels and Pacific Cigarette Company earned Silver Awards, recognizing their innovative approaches to social media engagement.
2. Best Website of the Year 2024
- Croco Holdings won the Platinum Award for their intuitive and visually appealing website.
- Nyaradzo earned Gold for its user-friendly site that merges functionality with a seamless customer journey.
- OmniContact and Delta Corporation were recognized with Silver Awards for their stellar digital interfaces.
For businesses looking to revamp their web presence, these examples provide inspiration on how to optimize for both aesthetics and usability.
3. Best New Product or Innovation of 2024
Innovation was a central theme at this year’s awards, particularly in the Best New Product or Innovation category:
- Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) earned the Platinum Award for their Electronic Government Procurement System (eGP), a transformative tech solution for streamlining procurement processes.
- Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe followed closely with the Gold Award for their Bulk Note Accepters, providing a tech-forward solution to bulk cash transactions.
These innovations underscore how technology is shaping new product development, offering solutions that enhance efficiency and user experience.
4. Service-Based Customer Experience of 2024
Customer experience is evolving through tech-enabled solutions, and this was evident in the Service-Based Customer Experience category:
- Econet Wireless led the pack with a Platinum Award for their outstanding customer-centric approach.
- TelOne took the Gold Award, recognized for delivering tech-driven service innovations that prioritize customer satisfaction.
5. Best 360-Degree Campaign of the Year 2024
- EcoCash Private Limited won the Platinum Award for their ChakaChaya neEcoCash campaign, demonstrating how to deliver consistent, impactful messaging across various platforms.
- Delta Beverages followed with the Gold Award for their Mighty Zambezian Experience, a campaign that engaged audiences through diverse channels and content.
6. Best Digital Marketing Practitioner of 2024
- Tinovimbanashe Hove from Barkers Ogilvy received the Platinum Award for outstanding work in digital strategy.
- William Duri from Croco Holdings earned the Gold Award, with Simbarashe Nhete from OK Zimbabwe and Malcom Mufunde from Nyaradzo Group taking Silver for their exceptional digital campaigns.
You can view the full list of winners here
Who is the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ)?
The Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) is the leading professional body for marketers in the country. Their mission is to uplift the standards of marketing practice through professional development, education, and recognition. MAZ organizes events like NEMA to ensure that marketing professionals are appreciated for their contributions to the success of businesses and brands.
Conclusion: Zimbabwe’s Need for Tech-Specific Awards
The NEMA awards provide an excellent platform to celebrate marketing excellence, but Zimbabwe is missing out on an opportunity to highlight and encourage innovation and technology specifically. As tech continues to be a driving force in shaping industries globally, Zimbabwe’s recognition of local tech talent through dedicated tech awards could stimulate growth, encourage investment, and drive innovation. Examples from other countries demonstrate the immense value in having dedicated tech and innovation categories, and it’s high time Zimbabwe followed suit.
