Buy Zimbabwe and COCAZ partner to promote local products through social media influence

Buy Zimbabwe and the Content Creators Association of Zimbabwe (COCAZ) have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to leverage social media influence in driving sales and promoting the preference for locally manufactured goods.

The partnership aims to tap into a network of over 400 influencers with a combined reach of more than five million followers to market local products and create sustainable employment opportunities for young creatives.

The initiative includes joint marketing campaigns, capacity-building workshops, and a commission-based revenue-sharing model.

Buy Zimbabwe, established 13 years ago as a prime driver for the preference of locally produced quality goods and services, has helped drive a robust private sector-led initiative resulting in increased local products and the creation of jobs consistent with the National Development Strategy (NDS-1).

The government has previously stated that the Buy Zimbabwe campaign, which encourages the purchase of local products, is central to the national development matrix of achieving Vision 2030.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Buy Zimbabwe Chairperson Mr Munyaradzi Hwengwere noted that while the digital space has evolved over the past decade, the country has not effectively integrated new influencers into the promotion of local products.

“A lot of locally produced goods and services have been struggling for market access, yet we have individuals or institutions that speak and are listened to by the market, even beyond the borders of Zimbabwe. We need to work with those influencers to ensure that the Zimbabwean product is known and appreciated for what it is,” he said.

Mr Hwengwere stressed that as Buy Zimbabwe collaborates with influencers, members should support COCAZ to enable influencers to effectively promote local products, thereby fostering job creation and economic growth.

He added that content creators play a crucial role in telling Zimbabwe’s story and shaping a positive narrative about the country’s industries.

COCAZ Chairperson Victor Mpofu described the MOU as a landmark development for his organisation.

He explained that content creators had come together to establish a representative body, which now comprises about 400 members.

“We are in an industry that is not very formalised, but we seek to formalise it. The only way we realised we could make our business make sense is to go out there and present what we have, which is our media impact on the market.

“We realised that there is Buy Zimbabwe, which specialises in promoting local products, and decided to work with them to tap into the market,” he said.-chronicle