Zim: Potraz orders penalties against non-compliant subscribers

[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's telecommunications regulator has ordered mobile phone network operators to penalise subscribers who have not yet complied with a directive to register their personal details ahead of a 28 February 2011 deadline. 31 Jan 2011 09:42

Media group in advertising awards partnership

[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's growing media group Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) has joined hands with Meet the Challenge Conference to create a new advertising awards brand, AMH Ngoma Awards, an announcement from the organisers said. 28 Jan 2011 10:27

Zim: Potraz targets rural areas for telecom services

[Dumisani Ndlela] The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has begun a process to roll out telecommunication services to rural areas through the Universal Service Fund (USF), which has been idle for years. 27 Jan 2011 13:49

Research Bureau International wins Zim media survey tender

[Dumisani Ndlela] Research Bureau International has won the tender to conduct the All Media and Products Survey (ZAMPS) over a two-year period from 2011 to 2012 after a unanimous decision by the Zimbabwe Advertising Research Foundation (ZARF) board on Monday, 17 January 2011. 21 Jan 2011 11:50

Zim government blocks Pick n Pay's Zimbabwe acquisition

[Dumisani Ndlela] The Zimbabwe government has blocked the purchase of a 24% stake in TM Supermarkets by South Africa's retail group Pick n Pay due to an indigenisation law requiring foreign and white-owned firms to relinquish control to black Zimbabweans. 20 Jan 2011 11:52

Webcasters, diffusion service providers caught in BAZ loop

[Dumisani Ndlela] The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has urged diffusion and webcasting service providers to register their operations this year, saying it had the backing of the law to demand fees and licence their operations. 12 Jan 2011 09:27

Ad expert pledges to transform Zimbabwe's advertising

[Dumisani Ndlela] Advertising and design practitioner Jarrod Pretorius has established an advertising agency with great promise to transform advertising in Zimbabwe which he said had "become lazy and obvious". 6 Jan 2011 09:59

NetOne threatens to name and shame customers

[Dumisani Ndlela] NetOne Cellular, the country's smallest cellular network operator by subscribers, has threatened to name and shame its post-paid customers with outstanding bills as it battles to free itself from a financial quagmire. 21 Dec 2010 10:15

Massmart sells Zim stores to OK Zimbabwe

[Dumisani Ndlela] South Africa's Massmart, a sitting duck for a US$2 billion takeover bid by US retailer Wal-Mart Store Inc., has sold its Zimbabwe unit to retail group, OK Zimbabwe. The deal ends months of speculation over Massmart's planned disposal of Makro Zimbabwe and the identity of the buyer. 10 Dec 2010 11:22

Zim: Advertising industry players say the worst is over

[Dumisani Ndlela] Newspaper executives have not yet seen the excitement that characterised yesteryear festive season bumper editions in which publications overflowed with advertisements, but their advertising industry counterparts agree that the market has turned the corner. 8 Dec 2010 07:37

Econet eclipses Coca-Cola to clinch Zimbabwe Superbrand

[Dumisani Ndlela] Telecommunications group Econet Wireless Zimbabwe eclipsed the Coca-Cola brand to clinch the Superbrand award at a ceremony held Thursday, 2 December 2010. Coca-Cola trailed to second position, with the Spar retail franchise coming third. 6 Dec 2010 11:27

Zim: Michael Hogg buys CM&A Ogilvy

[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwean marketing guru Michael Hogg, who sold his advertising agency in 2005, has staged a phenomenal come back after a surprise acquisition of CM&A Ogilvy from Barker McCormac Ogilvy & Mather. Bizcommunity has learnt that the transaction was completed last week and Hogg had already assumed the position of CEO and was re-organising CM&A. 3 Dec 2010 11:13

Meikles to rebrand TM Supermarkets into Pick n Pay

[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's Meikles group has agreed to allow Pick n Pay to rebrand TM Supermarkets after a deal in which the South African retailer will shore up its shareholding in the supermarket chain to 49%. 2 Dec 2010 11:28

Zim: Women's rights activists condemn HIV/AIDS campaign

[Dumisani Ndlela] The Population Services International (PSI) Zimbabwe is to withdraw all advertisements discouraging promiscuous behaviour by men after women's rights activists condemned it as sexist. The PSI, which has been at the forefront of campaigns against the spread of HIV/AIDS for over a decade in Zimbabwe, said it would completely pull out its billboards on the campaign by the end of November. 29 Nov 2010 10:42

Zim telecoms regulator to control high internet costs

[Dumisani Ndlela] The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) is pushing for drastic cuts in internet tariffs, which critics have said are "the most expensive in the world". 26 Nov 2010 06:44

Zimbabwe fixed-line operator probed

[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) says it has opened investigations into alleged abuse of monopoly by the state-owned fixed-line telephone service operator, TelOne. In a public notice, CTC said it would embark on the investigation in terms of the Competitions Act. 23 Nov 2010 13:15

Call for tenders for Zimbabwe media survey

[Dumisani Ndlela] The Zimbabwe Advertising Research Foundation (ZARF) is inviting bids for the Zimbabwe All Media and Products Survey (ZAMPS) over a two-year period from 2011 to 2012. The ZAMPS is a continuous survey commissioned by the Zimbabwe Advertising Research Foundation to provide information on media consumption and products. 23 Nov 2010 11:16

Zim: No bargains for Christmas shoppers

[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwean retailers have begun their big push for the 13th cheque - bonus money that always comes ahead of the year-end festive season. The Christmas carols are already playing in decorated shops and complexes, and it is all looking beautiful. 19 Nov 2010 09:18

Zim: Lager volumes hit 10-year high

[Dumisani Ndlela] Lagers and sparkling beverages consumption surged during the six months to 30 September 2010, pushing total beverages volumes for the half-year period to a level not seen since 2005. Lagers volumes reached levels last seen in 1999. 15 Nov 2010 06:54

Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe re-brands

[Dumisani Ndlela] Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe has unveiled its new brand and has pledged to splurge a substantial amount of money on a three-month marketing and advertising campaign that kicks off this month. 11 Nov 2010 10:29

Zim: Community radio lobby criticises government

[Dumisani Ndlela] The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) has criticised government for failing to license independent broadcasters in the country, describing recent changes to the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) Act as saddening. 10 Nov 2010 07:46

Zim: The Standard rebrands

[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's weekly The Standard newspaper, part of the Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) group controlled by media tycoon Trevor Ncube, has rebranded and slashed its cover price by half to US$1. The first rebranded edition hit the streets on 31 October 2010, and there has been a discernible market acceptance. 8 Nov 2010 07:49

Zim government opposes sweets for change

[Dumisani Ndlela] Finance Minister Tendai Biti has realised that stability brought to the country by dollarisation has also brought with it some difficulties - hundreds of retail customers have to get their change in the form of sweets because of lack of coins. 1 Nov 2010 08:36

Zim: NetOne in financial dire straits

[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's smallest cellular network operator NetOne Cellular is wriggling to extricate itself from a financial crisis, with sources indicating the company had punched a financial black hole after being deserted by contract subscribers last year. 25 Oct 2010 08:55

Zimbabwe launches new destination brand

[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe has launched a fresh brand war cry, or a tourism destination brand, as they are calling it in hospitality circles: "Zimbabwe - A world of wonders". It is part of national rebranding efforts being spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara to help reshape the image of the country. 22 Oct 2010 10:18

Zim: Multichoice forced to broadcast ZTV for free

[Dumisani Ndlela] Multichoice Zimbabwe has been forced to allow free viewing of the country's state-owned broadcasting channel, ZBC TV 1, as election fever grips the country after a fall-out between principals in the inclusive government. 19 Oct 2010 10:56

Zim marketers to hold annual convention

[Dumisani Ndlela] The Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) is to hold its 2010 annual marketing convention from 9-11 November 2010 at The Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga. MAZ secretary general, Gillian Rusike, said the association had lined up a number of speakers, including a renowned brand expert and an advertising and marketing executive from Zambia. 15 Oct 2010 06:41

Zim: Meikles Stores runs credit promotion

[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe departmental stores group, Meikles Stores is targeting 50 000 new accounts between October and December under a partnership with a local financial institution, TN Bank. The accounts will be managed by a TN Bank-Meikles Stores joint venture vehicle, Meikles Credit Services. 11 Oct 2010 08:00

AON Zimbabwe wears the Man United jersey

[Dumisani Ndlela] AON Zimbabwe has adopted the partnership between its global parent, AON Corporation, and English premiership football club, Manchester United. Advertising agency, Gary Thompson & Associates has described it as 'redbranding'. 4 Oct 2010 07:15

Zim: State-owned newspaper posts profit

[Dumisani Ndlela] The state-controlled Zimbabwe Newspapers Group (Zimpapers) says it is ready to face competition after posting a US$1.6 million profit at its newspaper division, which publishes former-monopoly daily newspapers now under threat from new entrants. 28 Sep 2010 08:16