Story by Stanley James, Business Editor
ZIMBABWE’s top brands and marketing professionals were recognised on Friday night at the 2025 National Exceptional Marketing Awards, with industry leaders emphasising the importance of innovation, consumer trust, and digital transformation in driving business growth.
The event, which celebrated corporates and individuals excelling in brand development, highlighted the urgent need for firms to align with globally accepted standards in order to strengthen their competitiveness both locally and internationally.
Marketers Association of Zimbabwe president, Mr Aman Jyoti, said the awards showcased the growing sophistication of consumers and the need for companies to remain responsive to changing market demands.
“Competition is always there in the market, and this is a reality for the practitioners on what can be done to increase the market share, and what needs to capture the attention of the clients. I think we all agree that Zimbabwean consumers are intelligent; they can see value in specific brands. So the choice of consumers is increasing, and if you are not linked to the needs of the consumers, then your brand will definitely lose its market share,” Marketers Association of Zimbabwe president, Mr Aman Jyoti said.
Mrs Lindiwe Thebethebe, the Marketing Manager for CABS, which won the Best Radio Infomercial of the year 2025, emphasised the need for building brands that increase market base for companies.
“Anything you ask gives you an answer and asks you for more work, like what is the market size of a specific product or service. So this entails more research and innovative methods to get the needs of the market and fully exploit it to drive business growth,” she noted.
Mr Elijah Tembo, the Corporate Affairs for CAG, which won the Best Marketing-Oriented Company, highlighted the importance of local firms in embracing attractive brands.
“All of us should be thinking about what we can do to maintain brand loyalty, create those attractive brands that suit the needs of the market, and stay afloat. Remember, it is all about spending money to reach more consumers, and it is not easy, as it requires creative aspects in the marketing strategies,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Director for Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mr Fredius Dzumbunu, who was presented with the Marketing Champions Leadership Award, spoke on the latest brand development trends.
“The landscape of marketing in Zimbabwe entails the need for practitioners to network, identify current technological systems, and focus on the need to grow business. So we are seeing artificial intelligence being embraced, and we believe the need to transform the current systems of our marketing strategies in line with the digital transformation systems,” he added.
As firms compete to increase market share in the local and external arena, Zimbabwe’s firms are expanding, riding on acceptable standards of brands for goods and services.
