‘Media poised for integrated future’

CHANGES in content creation and consumption have set the media industry up for a future where advertising would be more seamlessly integrated into content, the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe’s (MAZ) convention heard this Wednesday.

This came out of a presentation made at the conference by Jester Media Services Group chief executive (CE), Pilate Machadu, who said print, digital, broadcast and other mediums in the industry were also coming together.

“The growth of native advertising-paid content as a brand promotion tool is emerging as a major feature.

“The integration is also evident in the rise in the prominence of interactive video advertisement,” Machadu said, adding that programmatic audio adverts were also likely to “storm broadcast and digital platforms” in this regard.
This also comes as businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of sustainability and innovation in their marketing, public relations, and communications strategies.

Pilate Machadu, Jester Media Services Group chief executive.

As the global population continues to grow and resources become scarcer, companies are realising that they must adapt and embrace sustainable practices to remain competitive and relevant in the marketplace.
MAZ is hosting the annual convention, its 14th edition, from October 25 to 28 at Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls.
The theme for this year is: The future is now-Marketing, PR, Communications Winning through Sustainability and Innovation.
The Annual Marketers Convention (AMC) is an eagerly anticipated event that brings together marketing professionals, industry experts, and thought leaders from diverse sectors around the country.
This year’s AMC aims to provide a platform for marketers, advertisers, communications and PR people to exchange ideas, share insights, and discuss the latest trends and strategies in their ever-evolving fields.
One of the highlights of the convention is the line-up of esteemed keynote speakers who are renowned experts in their respective fields from the United Kingdom (UK), Kenya, South Africa as well as Zimbabwe.
One of the speakers is Khensani Nobanda, the group executive for marketing and corporate affairs at Nedbank Group.
Nobanda is expected to deliver the keynote address on the Future Fit Marketer.
Others speakers include Winnet Muchanyuka the CE for Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), who will talk on CEM: the game changer in improving the bottom-line; Prof O Sifile, a distinguished scholar and senior lecturer in the Department of Accounting and Finance at Chinhoyi University of Technology will talk on Critical Financial Intelligence for Marketing and PR Success; Kiaran Knight, Head of Business Development for ABC Auctions who will talk on Successful Integration of E-Commerce into Day to Day Business Operations.

In addition, Innocent Chikwata, the CE for Khayah Cement, will present on the Marketing Influence in the C-Suite; Tsitsi Mutendi, a renowned expert in family governance, with a strong focus on African family firms serving as president of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa will present on Leveraging AI and Martech to enhance Effectiveness of Marketing and PR.
Precious Murena, the founder & CE for Winfield Strategy, will talk on Interpersonal Skills for Managing Functional Relations.
Murena has spoken at over 100 conferences in Zimbabwe, South Africa, India, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, Eswatini, Mauritius, and Kenya.
From the United Kingdom (UK) comes Gavin Llewellyn, Chartered Institute of Marketing CIM facilitator who will talk on How Martech is shaping the Future of Business and Marketing.
He is a Chartered Marketer with over 18 years’ experience working across a variety of businesses, both B2B and B2C, agency and client-side.
Pheodor Mundia from Kenya will talk on Measuring Impact of Marketing and PR Campaigns.

Pheodor is the head of Marketing East and Southern Africa at Upfield, the largest plant-based consumer packaged goods company in the world.
In the past, MAZ hosted a number of marketers’ conventions, Last year, MAZ hosted the African Marketing Confederation’s inaugural marketing conference in October 2022 at the majestic Elephant Hills under the theme: The Astute Marketer: Reshaping the Future of Business in Africa, which brought together marketers from the region.
This year’s convention is well supported by corporate sponsors including National Foods, Delta Corporation Limited, Pacific Cigarette Company, Zimpapers, National Social Security Authority (NSSA), Potraz, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, Image Magic Corporate (IMC), Hyundai-Automotive Distributor Incorporated Pvt Ltd, Nissan Clover Leaf Motors among others.
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