NEWSDAY, Zimbabwe’s only independent daily newspaper, is marking its 15th anniversary with a corporate golf tournament set for today at the Country Club in Newlands, Harare.
Organisers of the tournament said the newspaper, which began publishing on June 4, 2010, and whose slogan is Everyday News for Everyday People, will become a signature anniversary event as it works to strengthen relationships with the business community and reinforce brand visibility.
Commercial executive Punish Murumbi said the milestone reflected NewsDay’s evolution since its launch in 2010, when the publication sold nearly 50 000 copies per edition.
He said the company had shifted to a strategy that reduced print dependency while investing heavily in digital platforms, where readership remained strong.
“We felt it was important to celebrate 15 years on the market by bringing together leaders in the corporate world.
“This platform allows us to engage them, understand the kind of content they want and structure our products to suit their business needs.”
Murumbi said NewsDay intended to maintain its position as a publication for the elite, business-focused audience and would continue shaping its content to match reader expectations across both print and digital platforms.
“We want to listen to what this market needs and tailor our content to suit those specific requirements,” he said.
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The marketing department says the decision to host the golf tournament was driven by the need to strengthen brand visibility and deepen engagement with key players in the corporate sector.
“We saw the tournament as a strategic platform to put our brand directly in front of corporate leaders,” Murumbi said.
“It allows us to interact with them, understand the kind of content they want from us and build relationships that shape how we serve the business community.”
According to Murumbi, the event also provides an opportunity to refine editorial offerings.
“By speaking to executives on the ground, we can appreciate the work they are doing and develop columns that respond to their specific business needs,” he added.
The marketing department said the golf tournament was also part of efforts to mark the company’s 15th anniversary while acknowledging the rapidly shifting business environment.
“So, in large part, this is why we felt it was important to celebrate our 15 years in the market together with our stakeholders.
“We are operating in an environment where dynamics are changing every single day and reaching this milestone is a testament to our resilience.”
Asked why the publication opted for a golf event and whether it intends to make it an annual fixture, Murumbi said the platform had proven effective in fostering direct interaction with the market.
“When The Standard reached its 20th anniversary, we also hosted a golf tournament where we brought together various corporates for a full day of networking and conversation.
“We saw real value in spending that time with our partners, getting to understand what they want and what they don’t want.”
He said the same strategy applied to this year’s anniversary celebrations.
“In this business, you need to listen more to the voices outside the organisation than the internal ones,” he said.
“A tournament like this gives us the space to hear directly from the market and that’s why it’s important.”
Murumbi added that NewsDay was exploring the possibility of making the golf event a recurring engagement as part of efforts to strengthen its relationship with the corporate community.
According to Murumbi, the Golf Day attracted 22 corporate teams alongside several strategic partners.
Image Magic supplied branded golf shirts and clothing, while CAFCA, Pandi Gas, Nissan Cloverleaf and Suzuki are among the major sponsors.
He said extensive preparations were made ahead of the tournament, including securing the venue, organising branded (NewsDay) golfer shirts and assembling “goodie bags” containing branded golf balls, tees, divot forks and towels for all players.
He expressed hope that the next 15 years will be “greater than the ones we are celebrating today,” noting that NewsDay intends to keep aligning its print and digital offerings with the needs of its corporate readership.
