Southern African marketing bodies launch Regional Winter School

The Institute of Marketing in Malawi (IMM), in partnership with the Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM) and the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ), has announced an inaugural Regional Winter School set to take place in Lilongwe, Malawi at the Bingu International Convention Centre from 10-13 June 2026.  

All three organisations are members of the African Marketing Confederation (AMC).  

Held under the theme: ‘Marketing in the Digital-Al Era: Driving Sustainable Growth and Regional Competitiveness in Africa’, the Winter School marks the beginning of a rotational regional knowledge-sharing model among the three partner nations, reinforcing long-term cooperation, institutional partnerships and cross-border professional integration within the marketing sector.  

The initiative seeks to: 

• Encourage cross-border collaboration among practitioners and institutions; 

• Equip professionals with emerging competencies in digital marketing, artificial intelligence and data analytics; 

• Build a strong shared regional marketing portfolio that positions Southern Africa competitively in the global marketplace. 

Initiative is a strategic milestone 

George Damson, President of the Institute of Marketing in Malawi, welcomed the initiative as a strategic milestone that elevates both professional standards and Malawi’s regional standing.  

Mwewa Besa of the Zambia Institute of Marketing stressed the value of forging a cohesive regional professional ecosystem, while Gillian Rusike of the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe underscored the initiative’s role in advancing regional competitiveness and excellence. 

Beyond professional development, the Winter School is positioned to boost educational tourism and cross-border business networking fostering professional travel, cultural exchange and commercial collaboration among member nations. 

The initiative reflects marketing’s growing recognition as a driver of economic transformation, investment attraction and sustainable development across Africa.  

Further details on programme schedules, speakers, registration, sponsorship and partnerships will be announced through each institution’s official channels.