From the CEO’s desk
A warm welcome to the second half of 2019. A lot has been happening in our environment with numerous changes coming through. These changes have no doubt impacted you as an individual and the business has also not been spared. In these volatile times, it is important that we reassure you, that you- our people are our most prized asset. Our success can only come about through your dedication, hard work and focus on providing superior customer experience. Our commitment to you is that hard work will continue to be rewarded. The business has put in place a couple of measures to ensure that we minimise the economic effects and enable you to still deliver your best performance.
I would also like to speak briefly about the future of the business. Our parent company, the Masawara Group has challenged us to grow the size of each business ten times in the next 5 years. I know you are thinking, is this even realistic or possible? It is very much achievable. There are few notable local examples who have managed to do that despite the turbulent economic environment in which they operate in. One such company is the Innscor Group which has grown to become one of the largest companies on the Zimbabwean stock exchange. An example closer to home, within the Masawara family is our very own Grand Re. They too have managed to achieve astronomical growth in the five years. These companies are no different from ours, yet they have achieved the seemingly impossible. This reminds me of a quote by Tommy Lasorda that says, “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination” If we are deliberate, determined and plan we can also achieve this feat in our individual businesses.
Now that I have managed to convince you that it can be done, you may now be wondering what is my role in all of this? Your MDs will lead a process to plan how we can achieve such growth in our individual businesses. The call is for you to play your part and get involved in the planning and most importantly in the execution of this exciting chapter of our history. The call is for you to think outside the box in a radical and disruptive way. We have moved away from the same old, same old but to a new era that calls on you to be innovative and help drive this business to its desired destination. The call is for you to rise and be counted!
Until our next issue, Lets continue to Make life better
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Health & Fitness
By Pamela T Mukuze
A healthy body gives a healthy mind
If your health fails, it can overshadow everything else that is going on in your life. From relatively minor health issues such as aches and pains, lethargy and indigestion to major health problems that can threaten your existence, health can really affect happiness and stress levels. Making a commitment to take on healthier habits can have a far-reaching payoff.
Here are a few tips that can help you;
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Eat a healthy diet
Make a commitment to eat foods that will boost your energy level and keep your system running smoothly. Your diet has a more immediate effect on your mood, if you eat a poor diet you may feel lethargic, jittery or moody in a matter of minutes or hours, while it may take a greater buildup of unhealthy meals to make a difference that can be seen on your scale.
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Make sleep a priority
Get enough sleep at night (at least 7-8 hours of sleep). If you haven’t gotten adequate sleep, it affects your productivity, mental sharpness and you’re more prone to effects of stress.
- Exercise regularly
Exercise and physical activity are great ways to feel better, boost your health and have fun. It is recommended to have at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity in a week. We also have Zumba sessions every Wednesday from 5pm to 6pm in the 4th floor open space, make it a point to be a part of this and boost your health and fitness.
- Drink lots of water
Our bodies are made of about 60% water and we are constantly losing water from our bodies and should keep hydrated. We should drink at least 2 litres of water on a daily basis.
Zimnat Launches Another Innovative Billboard Campaign
Motorists driving towards Harare’s city centre along Borrowdale Road are likely to be surprised to see just before the racecourse what appears to be boulders falling from a container on a billboard and a car beneath the billboard that appears to have collided with them.
This is Zimnat’s latest innovative billboard advert intended to illustrate how unexpected accidents can occur, the implication being that it is wise to be insured against accidents.
“Whatever life delivers, Zimnat makes it better,” is the message displayed on the billboard. The message here is that whatever life throws at one, Zimnat can make the situation better.
The 3D advert which includes a realistic looking container and a real wrecked car at the foot of the billboard, makes the scene that is portrayed of a car colliding with falling boulders look realistic. This makes the advert dramatic and unique.
The launch of the company’s latest billboard campaign comes exactly a year after the group made headlines with its 2018 billboard campaign, which included a real car apparently embedded in a wall in the city centre. Last year’s billboard campaign won the group an award for the Best Outdoor Advert of the Year at the Marketer’s Association of Zimbabwe Exceptional Marketing Awards.
The rest of the group’s billboards throughout the country have been revamped to communicate the new theme of how Zimnat makes life better for its customers. The messaging on the billboards covers all Zimnat’s business units, which include general insurance, life insurance, asset management and micro finance.
Zimnat is associated with Sanlam, the largest non-banking financial institution on the continent (Africa). The company offers businesses and individuals a variety of products including motor insurance, home insurance, life assurance, travel insurance, funeral cover, health and accident insurance, pension schemes, unit trusts and private wealth management.
Zimnat And Sanlam Continue To Assist Cyclone Idai Victims
Zimnat, together with Sanlam, with which Zimnat is associated, last week donated roofing materials to yet another Chimanimani school affected by Cyclone Idai, Muchadziya Primary School in Ngorima.
This follows a similar donation to Gatsi Primary School in Tamba village in Mutasa District barely a week earlier.
The cyclone lifted the roof off a classroom block at Muchadziya Primary School, leaving Grade Four pupils without a roof to shelter them from the bitter winter cold. Two tents have been used as makeshift classrooms following the damage caused by Cyclone Idai.
Zimnat handed over to the school roofing sheets, timber and cement for the repair of the classroom block. The school, which was established in 1934, has an enrolment of 1 220 pupils.
Thanking Zimnat and Sanlam for the donation, Muchadziya Primary School headmaster Amos Gwatida said it had come at an opportune moment as the winter was becoming increasingly cold.
The school had been struggling to find the resources needed to provide warm shelter for the eager learners who were undeterred from coming to school by the tragic events of March and the bitter cold, he said.
Commenting on the donation, Zimnat chief executive Mustafa Sachak said his organisation was happy to partner with Muchadziya Primary School in making life better for the pupils, teachers and the community after the harrowing experience they went through.
“We hope that this contribution to the restoration of the classroom block will help bring back normalcy to the school and contribute to the psycho-social healing of the pupils and the people of Muchadziya, whose lives were so tragically affected by the cyclone,” he said.
Zimnat is a diversified financial group made up of four business units, namely Zimnat General Insurance, Zimnat Life Assurance, Zimnat Financial Services and Zimnat Asset Management. Sanlam is the largest non-banking financial services group on the continent.
Zimnat Comes To The Aid Of Melfort Old People’s Home
Zimnat has come to the aid of Melfort Old People’s Home by providing free insurance cover for the home’s two vehicles for a whole year.
The home, which recently had a combi and a sedan donated to it, approached the Zimnat Group for assistance with insuring these vehicles. Zimnat responded by insuring the two vehicles free of charge.
Located along Mutare road, Melfort Old People’s Home, which is registered with Help Age, has the capacity to accommodate 60 elderly residents, most of whom have been referred to it by the social welfare department. Others come from Harare and Marondera hospitals.
The institution faces a number of challenges, among them lack of a consistent food supply and adequate manpower. Currently there are only two superintendents who are employed by Help Age Zimbabwe and a part-time nurse.
Following the assistance rendered with insurance, Zimnat has scheduled a visit to the home to assess its needs and see how best it can further assist it.
“The Chairperson of Melfort Old People’s Home approached Zimnat Group to ask for assistance with vehicle insurance cover after the institution received a donation of two vehicles.
“We agreed to provide cover for the two vehicles for the whole year to ensure that the vehicles are on the road legally,” Zimnat group chief executive Mustafa Sachak said.
“We also discovered that there are a lot of other challenges the home is facing including deaths of residents, food shortages and lack of manpower. We will look, therefore, at how best we can further assist,” he said.
Zimnat is a diversified financial group that offers products across the financial and insurance spectrum. It has four business units namely Zimnat General Insurance, Zimnat Life Assurance, Zimnat Financial Services and Zimnat Asset Management.
Zimnat, making life better!
From the CEO's Desk
I hope we have all had a great start to the new year. As we position ourselves to achieve big things, I have a few announcements to allow us to be on the same page.
Firstly, I am pleased to announce that Sanlam Emerging Markets has officially changed its name to Sanlam Pan Africa (SPA) as the descriptor for the SEM African operations. This means we will now refer to ourselves as being part of Sanlam Pan Africa. However, SEM will remain as the legal entity as it also caters for both the India and Malaysia operations.
I would also like to recognize one of our own - Stanley Mazorodze, The Zimnat General Insurance MD who has just celebrated 30 years in the General Insurance industry and has been appointed the CEO of Zimnat General Insurance. He has extensive experience in the insurance industry and is a qualified Fellow and Associate with the Insurance Institute of South Africa. The lesson we can draw from Stanley’s success story is that hard work and determination pays off. We wish Stanley all the best as he continues to seek out the best opportunities for the organisation and to ensure it lives out its purpose of Making life better.
We also had a positive milestone lately as a group. For the first time Zimnat Client Advisors (Agents) from the group came together in Harare and awards were presented to the top performing advisors in 2018. It was a great experience to see the men and women who have dedicated their lives to making life better for customers, employees and shareholders. The sales teams are the engine that drives the organisation and their success must be celebrated.
As we position ourselves for growth this year and in the coming years, one thing that will completely differentiate us from the rest of the competition is customer experience. How are you making life better for the customer? As a Zimnat brand ambassador, how are you being relevant to the customer needs not just within your business space but within the Zimnat Group as a whole.
With these few thoughts I leave you to get on with achieving those big hairy audacious goals for yourself and the organisation. Go out there and Make life better!
Email etiquette
When the use of email became common in the early 90’s the business world changed, email now takes up a significant portion of our workday. People receive so many emails each day and many end up making embarrassing mistakes that could be detrimental in a professional interaction. For example, you can easily miss a spelling error while typing out an email, or you may come off as too casual or unprofessional in tone or content.
While we try to work faster and more efficiently, we must not forget the social rules that accompany any form of communication. Here are a few tips on email etiquette;
* Include a clear, direct subject line
People often decide on whether to open an email based on the subject line. Choose one that lets readers know you are addressing their concerns or business issues.
* Think twice before hitting “reply all”
With many people getting notifications of new messages on their smartphones or distracting pop-up messages on their computer screens. Refrain from hitting "reply all" unless you really think everyone on the list needs to receive the email.
* Use professional salutations
The relaxed nature of our writings should not affect the salutation in an email. Laid back colloquial expressions like ‘hey’ will not be appropriate, use ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ instead.
* Be cautious with humor
Humor can easily get lost in translation without the right tone or facial expressions. In a professional exchange, it's better to leave humor out of emails unless you know the recipient well.
* Proofread every message
Don't rely on spell-checkers. Read and re-read your email a few times, preferably aloud, before sending it off.
* Add the email address last
You don't want to send an email accidentally before you have finished writing and proofing the message. Even when you are replying to a message, it's a good precaution to delete the recipient's address and insert it only when you are sure the message is ready to be sent.
Health tips in the office
On average, a person spends at least 8 hours in the office and it is best that a healthy lifestyle is maintained. Most, if not all of these office hours are spent sitting and looking at the computer which causes strain. We may not be able to control the amount of work or the work environment but we certainly can change the way we live by being healthy. As Jim Rohn rightfully puts it “Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live in”. Follow the link below and find out how you can stay healthy in the office at Zimnat.
Upclose with Workmore Chimweta
NAME: WORKMORE
SURNAME: CHIMWETA
POSITION: LIFE MANAGING DIRECTOR
DATE OF BIRTH: 4 MAY 1977
WHO YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF WORK: Workmore is a husband to Cynthia and a father to three children - Tana, Tanya and Tate. He is a lover of the outdoors, preferring to spend quiet time in the garden tending to his plants and domestic animals amongst which are chickens, ducks, and rabbits. He is particularly fond of his 4 dogs and is constantly mindful of the need to make sure the dogs (Boerboels and German Shepherds) do not eat any of the other pets. It's a tricky balance. Workmore, being a passionate creative at heart loves to sketch and paint as well as to have a go at writing.
VALUES AND HOW THEY INFORM YOUR CAREER GROWTH AND DIRECTION: Workmore believes in the value of leadership starting with leading the self. He believes in the first instance that the greatest human need is to be led, whilst at the same time believing that the first and most consistent leader one has is the self. One has to first lead themselves before they can be led or lead others. Leadership is the "miracle spectacles" of life which gives clarity and vividness to what we all aspire for, what we can achieve and how we can achieve it in a fulfilling manner. When leadership fails, many a time it is the failure of one to lead themselves, to have a vision, a personal goal, a plan and many times, even with these, it is a failure to execute on them diligently and persistently. Because of this view of life, Workmore's style in life and in the workplace is to seek opportunities to collaborate with colleagues to lead each other towards iconic goals. Leadership, in his eyes is not defined by title nor by rank. It is a state of mind which everyone and anyone can manifest if they so choose.
YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHER COLLEAGUES: A word of encouragement from Workmore is to confidently dream big, boldly set audacious goals and enthusiastically take action, because "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams".