Marketers Association of Zimbabwe launches its Business Institute

The institute’s operations are guided by MAZ principles and values. It comprises three strategic business units (SBUs), namely: MAZ Institute of Digital Practitioners; MAZ Institute of Sales Professionals; and MAZ Institute of Customer Experience Practitioners.

Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, MAZ Patron and Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, officially launched the MAZ Business Institute.

In her speech, she highlighted how business trends are changing and urged Zimbabwe’s marketers to always be alert on these.

“Globally, the business trends are changing very fast. This therefore calls you, the marketers and communications professionals, to be at the forefront of presenting your brands,” she stated.

A revolution in the way businesses must communicate

Minister Mutsvangwa said digitalisation of the business world and its processes, as well as the advent of social media, had completely revolutionised the way businesses communicated with their customers. 

“Social media is a very powerful medium which can either destroy or build brands, as well as nations. We have to tailor-make our products and services to the demand of customers. Even as government, we take communication seriously, as we need to keep abreast with technology”, said the Minister.

MAZ Executive Secretary, Mr Gillian Rusike, said the establishment of the Business Institute was in line with the education 5.0 being promoted by the government. 

“The Institute is part of education 5.0 and we are working with industry and institutions of higher learning to enhance our programmes and make sure that the calls by the President are incorporated at industry level,” said Mr Rusike.

He added that MAZ was committed to upholding professionalism in the marketing and related professions in the country and beyond, as seen by synergies with other regional marketing bodies.

Mr Rusike said the cross-border partnerships had seen MAZ offering the Digital Marketing program to students in Malawi and Zambia. MAZ was also working on a partnership with Kenya.