Southern African marketing bodies wrap up first 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), recently completed their first Regional Winter School in Lilongwe, Malawi at the Bingu International Convention Centre.  

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 marked 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 programme featured insightful presentations from distinguished speakers, including Gillian Hammah, Dr Francis Mukosa, Maureen Chirambaghwa, Nestor Msowoya, and Mrs Mable Mung’omba, whose expertise enriched the learning experience for all participants. 

“We extend our sincere appreciation and congratulations to Dr Francis Mukosa and Mrs Mable Mung’omba for ably representing the Zambia Institute of Marketing and Zambia on the regional stage. Your contributions exemplify the professionalism, expertise, and leadership that continue to elevate the marketing profession across the region,” comments the Zambia Institute of Marketing in a social media post. 

“Together, we continue to build a stronger, more competitive marketing profession across Africa.” 

The ongoing 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. 

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.