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Ivan Zhakata Herald Correspondent
ZIMPAPERS public relations and corporate affairs manager Ms Beatrice Tonhodzayi scooped the Public Relations Team Leader of the Year award at the inaugural Public Relations and Communication Excellence Awards, held in Harare on Wednesday.

Mr Tanaka Muradzi from Zimgold was the first runner-up.

The awards were hosted by the Institute of Public Relations and Communication Zimbabwe (IPRCZ) to honour organisations and individuals who have made an impact in the PR and communications industry.

Zimpapers was also the second runner-up in the PR and Communication Campaign of the Year (public sector category), which was scooped by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ).

The Office of the President and Cabinet was the first runner-up.

Ms Tonhodzayi said she was happy to have been recognised and dedicated the award to the Zimpapers family.

“I can only get recognition with Zimpapers because for us as PR practitioners or communications practitioners, what we push is our brand,” Ms Tonhodzayi said.

“I am the corporate ambassador for the Zimpapers brand, so I am honoured that Zimpapers gave me the platform to represent it as a spokesperson and as a public relations practitioner.

“For me to have an award also means Zimpapers has won. I am excited because I think we have come a long way as a business.

“People in the market are actually beginning to appreciate that Zimpapers is a corporate, it is a listed business and a profitable entity. We are not just newspapers, we are a business and businesses are seen by the impact they make in their community.”

Ms Tonhodzayi said Zimpapers was becoming a visible brand countrywide, embarking on various developmental initiatives.

“This award for Zimpapers which speaks to our PR and communication campaign of the year in the public sector, gives me so much joy,” she said.

“We are becoming more noticeable in our products, brands and services, but also we are becoming more noticeable as a corporate.

“I also dedicate my individual award to the Zimpapers team. Next year we want to finish the classroom block which we are building in Chimanimani in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai.

‘‘We are not going to stop, we actually want to strengthen our community initiatives.”