How Exercise Combats Stress and Improves Mental Health
By Shadreck Mhlanga
Exercise is excellent for improving many different aspects of our physical wellbeing and is especially beneficial for our mental and emotional health.
Exercise and mental health go hand in hand, and of recent, science has a lot to contribute to this topic.
Let's look at the mental health benefits of exercise and see why we feel like a million bucks after a spin class or get that post-working out "high" after a morning run – as well as the long-term health benefits.
Mental health benefits of exercise
Helps with managing major depressive disorder
After reviewing several randomised trials testing the efficacy of exercise on chronic depression, a team of researchers found that participants who trained for three or more sessions each lasting 45 to 60 minutes saw a notable improvement in their symptoms.
On average, the participants began noticing a difference after around four weeks of regular exercise. Still, the researchers suggest working out regularly for at least 10-12 weeks to start seeing more quantifiable results.
Anxiety relief
You’ve probably heard of runner’s high, that energised feeling and sense of euphoria you get after an intense workout. That’s due to your body releasing hormones - enkephalins and endorphins - that can improve your mood and relieve stress. Although these feel-good hormones are integral for creating this sensation, the fact is, exercise also a great way to refocus and feel rooted in the present moment.
Think about it – when you concentrate on an intense workout, what do you think about most of the time?
Probably about how you're out of breath, how your feet are running in sync with the beat of the music you're listening to, or maybe how much your arms are burning while lifting weights.
Focusing on your body rather than ruminating about worries can help you realize you're more than your thoughts.
May help with confidence and self-esteem
Low self-esteem and confidence levels are common among people suffering from mental illnesses or distress. Exercise shines in this realm once again.
Just think about how great you feel when you complete a workout, especially when you weren’t in the mood to work out in the first place.
Small accomplishments like these can add up and make you feel fantastic.
By creating a workout plan that you can stick to – and setting goals that you can achieve – you’ll start feeling a sense of achievement that will continue to grow as you keep moving forward with your training.
In one study published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise, researchers found that feelings of wellbeing and heightened self-confidence improve after just 30 minutes of exercise.
In this study, the effects analysed lasted around 20 minutes following the exercise session, but as we discussed earlier in the case of depression, exercise seems to have an impact that's more far-reaching when it's completed regularly over several weeks.
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2019 Thematic Campaign Highlights
By Shingirai Mazambani
Last year, we launched a thematic campaign titled ‘Making Life Better.’ The objective of the campaign being to drive the Zimnat Group purpose. The campaign which ran in the mainstream media covering radio, press, digital and TV won various awards at the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe Exceptional Marketing Awards for 2019.
In May, this year we launched a continuation of the campaign, with the focus now on Zimnat makes life better, with the focus being on the practical ways Zimnat lives its purpose. Again the campaign covers print, digital radio, TV and billboards.
The most exciting and innovative billboard is the one that has been placed along Borrowdale Road, just before the Borrowdale Race Course facing traffic going towards town. The billboard shows boulders falling and a car accidentally crashing into the boulders and carries the message ‘Whatever life delivers, Zimnat makes it better. The communication being that should life throw challenges at you, Zimnat will make the situation better.
What is very exciting about the billboard is that it is 3D to represent the actual container and boulders falling. It also uses an actual car wreck in this execution, which is permanently stationed at the billboard. This an innovative execution that has never been done in Zimbabwe. What is also unique about these billboards it that they bring home the reality of why one would need to be insured. They are dramatic and drive the message home.
Below are some of the adverts and billboards that are part of this years; thematic campaign.
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Events
By Shingirai Mazambani
In April this year, the Zimnat Group participated at the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair held from the 22nd to the 28th of April 2019 under the theme ‘Propagating Industrial Growth through Trade and Investment.
The exhibition, which was the 1st for the Zimnat Group, saw a number of customers visiting the stand to interact with the brand, understand more about the products and services on offer as well for sign up’s.
Visitors also got an opportunity to interact with the Bulawayo Team which was manning the stand from the different business units within the group.
Activities that took place at the stand included a daily quiz, with winners able to pop a balloon to find out what prize they had won, and a ‘sign up and win’ promotion where customers who signed up for an insurance policy at the stand walked away with a Zimnat branded gift.
There were also Zimnat branded gifts for those who referred the person signing up for a policy.
There was a Zimnat virtual reality showroom, to give potential customers an idea of what to expect at a Zimnat office.
Those who needed to renew their motor vehicle insurance and license their vehicles were able to do so, through an automatic vehicle licensing machine.
The exhibition, saw Zimnat walking away with two awards; a silver medal in the ‘Best Zimbabwean Medical Aid and Related Exhibit and a bronze medal for the Best Zimbabwean Motor Trade Exhibit.
“I think we can feel proud of the fact that we came second in one category and third in another even though we had never exhibited at the trade fair before,” commented Zimnat Group Marketing Executive Angela Mpala, in an interview.
“Even more important for us than the awards we won was the interaction we were able to have with our customers and potential customers, who flocked to the stand to learn more about the products and services we offer, to renew or take out policies or to take part in the competitions taking place there,” she said.
The participation at the years’ ZITF was inspired by the desire to make lives better and to interact with customers and potential customers attending it. Below are some of the pictures of the stand and the customers who interacted with the Zimnat Team.
ADMA
The Zimnat group in partnership with THI, also participated at the recently held Agricultural Dealers and Manufacturers Association (ADMA) Agrishow. The show, attracted manufacturers and dealers of farming equipment as well as other companies that offer products and services to the agricultural sector.
Among the large exhibits that were there was a 20 metre 30 tonne mobile agricultural laboratory designed to provide agricultural laboratory services in rural areas. The impressive laboratory was stationed at the Zimnat/THI Insurance stand.
The two companies showcased the mobile laboratory, in partnership with Santam Agriculture, a subsidiary of Sanlam. The laboratory which is well equipped, is predominantly run with solar power and includes a training room, which can be used for training groups of farmers and to introduce agriculture science to youths in remote areas. If the group is too large for the training room, those outside the truck can follow proceedings in the training room on two high definition televisions screens.
One of the main purposes of the mobile laboratory is to enable farmers to have soil and water tests done close to where they are, so they do not have to travel long distances to have such samples analysed. An analysis of soil samples is important for deciding on what fertiliser to use.
In an interview, Zimnat General Insurance Chief Executive Officer Stanley Mazorodze says the laboratory is intended not only to enable emerging farming businesses to do soil and water analysis but also to introduce technology to rural schoolchildren.
“The mobile laboratory enables us to bring appropriate technology to the field where it is needed most,” he said.
The Zimnat/THI stand also had a rural feel to it, with bales of straw being used as seats. Below are some of the pictures of the exhibition.
Awards
In Q2, we celebrated 2 awards awarded at the 2019 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair
- Best Zimbabwean Medical Aid and Related Exhibit
- Bronze medal for the Best Zimbabwean Motor Trade Exhibit awarded at the 2019 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair
We were also awarded for the second time in a row for ‘Winner in the Short Term Insurance Top Companies Survey’
Congratulations to the team and may we keep the Zimnat flag flying high!
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Zimnat innovating funding options for Zimbabwean businesses
By Taurai Craig Museka
As Zimbabwe looks to map its way to economic recovery with the aim to realise a better balance of payments, export development initiatives have become a priority for both the government and private sector. Zimnat is on an innovation drive to develop insurance products that can assist businesses that have for long struggled to grow their manufacturing base and export markets. With the new products Zimnat hopes to obviate some of the obstacles to development resulting from the lack of funding and working capital.
Businesses operating in any struggling economy are exposed to the harsh reality of limited access to funding, in such fluid environments risk mitigation measures take precedence amongst investors and banks. This desire to reduce risk usually outweighs the appetite for profits on the money therefore making it difficult for businesses to get funding necessary for capacitation to meet export demand. Contrary to developed nations where Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) are given a task by governments to support development of exports through provision of export financing and various insurance and guarantees, Zimnat has taken the task to strengthen the export position of domestic companies. Through the provision of insurance, guarantees and partnerships with various funders Zimnat is able to make life better for all its stakeholders both individual and legal entities.
The foreign currency constraints in Zimbabwe are leaving many businesses with the difficult task of sourcing for funds to pay for their foreign currency obligations to settle input costs. Through the Trade Credit Insurance Division, Zimnat is assisting businesses in entering into more foreign markets, which would normally be difficult or risky to venture into. As an organisation that is associated with Africa’s largest non-banking financial services provider (Sanlam), Zimnat has a rich market intelligence pool on global markets that can assist any business without fear of defaults on exports. Furthermore Zimnat offers export trade credit insurance policies that compensate businesses in the event that the producer’s clients both local and international default payment for goods sold on credit terms.
The goal of any business in any difficult environment is cost containment. Zimnat Trade Credit Insurance policies do not just compensate businesses in the event of a default by their debtors, the policies also offer cost minimisation through reduction of the bad debt reserves. The policy allows the exporting business to share the cost of market vetting with Zimnat to ensure that business minimise their costs and be cost competitive internationally. Zimnat also eliminates the need for hiring lawyers or debt collectors in the event of a default by a debtor, as they take over the credit management and debt collection function at no extra cost.
With the aid of partnerships with strong financial backing, Zimnat is able to provide comfort to trade financiers by making available invoice-discounting arrangements that are also known as factoring. Such arrangements make life better for most Zimbabwean businesses which have low credit ratings, which make it difficult to access funds from banks. Businesses are able to turn what would have otherwise been a credit sale into a cash-upfront sale through invoice discounting. A business can wait for 30 days on a credit sale and risk the loss of value through inflation on a sale made, they receive cash up front by opting to have their invoices discounted by Zimnat. Through the trade credit insurance Zimnat has essentially made it easier for businesses to have funding necessary for restocking. The insurance policy will essentially cover the financier from the risk of losing money when a debtor defaults after the 30 days or the terms of the invoice have ended.
As lending standards get increasingly tighter due to an increase in non-performing loans, Zimnat is encouraging private lenders to provide funding for small, medium and large businesses through the issuance of various credit guarantees. Zimnat will guarantee repayment of borrowed amounts in case the businesses default. Businesses without a credit history or collateral are able to secure funding using guarantees provided by Zimnat. Other guarantees issued by Zimnat have also made it possible for businesses particularly in manufacturing, agriculture, construction and mining to upgrade their equipment, machinery and infrastructure.
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Economic Highlights
By Tatenda Makoni
The second quarter of the year saw a lot of changes on the monetary policy front which were building up on SI33/2019 which removed the fixed 1:1 exchange rate between the USD and the RTGS dollar and an opening of an official interbank exchange rate at 1:2.5 to the USD. However, the parallel market exchange rate continued to deteriorate opening the 2nd quarter at 1:4 to the US dollar and trading at 1:10 by mid-June 2019. Prices soon caught up driven by the cost push inflation as there was limited availability of forex on the interbank market and official annual inflation reached an all-time post dollarisation high of 98%, just a few points away from the hyper-inflationary mark of 100%.
The Zimbabwean government entered into an IMF Staff Monitored Program in which the IMF would assist government with technical advice on tackling market distortions e.g. subsidies, fuel arbitrage, and improving the efficiency of the formal forex market. The program is to run between May 2019 and March 2020. On 20 May 2019, there was the removal of the 1:1 exchange rate for fuel procurements as government moved to stem arbitrage opportunities and loopholes which were helping to sustain the parallel market. Fuel prices increased from $3.36 and $3.22 for petrol and diesel respectively to $4.97 and $4.89 and going forward, the RBZ directed that procurement of fuel by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) was to be done through the interbank foreign exchange market. As the foreign exchange rates continue to deteriorate, it is not clear at this juncture how much of that increase will be passed on to consumers. The energy sector has been highly regulated by the government. Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) struggles to meet demand at current tariffs. Although current energy prices are unsustainable for providers, an increase would undoubtable stoke inflation.
The increase in fuel prices and subsequently inflation was not met by a corresponding increase in wages. The result was a serious erosion in the purchasing power of consumers and a cry to be compensated in USD wages and salaries as almost all commodities were now pegged to the USD. The response from the authorities was the removal of the multi-currency system and an enforcement of the Zimbabwe dollar as the legal tender in the country via SI142/2019 on 24 June 2019. The statutory instrument was intended not only to limit local forex demand for local transactions, but also to channel hard currency towards the formal system. There was further liberation of the forex market through removal of 2.5% limit on margin of movement for exchange trades at the interbank market and allowing a fully market driven market.
In 2018, the country produced record 252 million kilograms of flue-cured tobacco, generating at least US$1 billion in foreign currency earnings. However, the 2018/19 season has been below par because of the change in payment modalities (part payment in local currency) and partly due to unfavourable weather conditions. In its June 2019 report, the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association said early indications were that tobacco production and US dollar earnings from tobacco in the 2018/19 season would decline compared to prior year. As at 12 June 2019, deliveries were down 11% in volume at 171.2 million kilograms. The average price mid-June was US$1.85/kg, against US$2.87/kg a year ago.
The country racked in US$3, 2 billion from mineral exports in 2018, of which US$1, 1 billion was from gold. The experience for 2019 is likely to fall below expectations given the declining deliveries to Fidelity Printers which in the five months to May dropped by 20% to 10.8tonnes from 13.59tonnes in the same period last year. Gold miners are compelled by exchange control regulations to surrender 45% of their export proceeds to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and this low retention level has negative impacts on the mines ability to meet its working capital requirements and encourages deliveries to be made outside the formal channels especially for small scale miners. In addition to foreign currency constraints, erratic supply of electricity is disrupting production.
Looking ahead, the cost of living in Zimbabwe is likely to remain pegged to the US dollar and the prevailing exchange rate. Whether or not the exchange will stabilise is difficult to predict at this point. Key variables in the economic equation include, overall confidence in the local currency, fiscal and monetary discipline by government, political reforms and doing business reforms, to name a few, all of which are important factors determining the success or failure of the resurrected Zimbabwe Dollar.
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Our CSR Initiatives in Quarter 2
By Shingirai Mazambani
Our purpose as a brand is to make life better and we aim to do this in every way possible. In the 1st half of the year, we were involved in various initiatives which helped us make a difference in people’s lives. Some of the initiatives we undertook include;
Melfort Old People's Home
Donation of free insurance cover for two vehicles belonging to Melfort Old People’s Home located along Mutare Road. The home, currently accommodates 60 elderly residents from different places including Harare Hospital, Marondera Hospital as well as the Ministry of Social Welfare.
The Chairperson of Melfort Old People’s Home had approached Zimnat for vehicle Insurance after the institution had received the 2 cars as a donation to ensure cover in the event of any accidents.
As a business, we also discovered that there are a lot of other challenges that the home is facing and will look at them in the future to make life better for them. Below is an image taken during the donation;
Masawara Donation to Cyclone Idai Victims
It was a fulfilling experience for the Masawara Group to be involved in assisting those that were affected by Cyclone Idai which hit the country on the night of the 15th of March 2019. The cyclone, which affected the eastern parts of the country, left hundreds dead and thousands displaced.
On the 21st of March, volunteers within the Masawara Group got together to pack over 500 relief packs consisting of two blankets, two buckets, 10 litres of water, 4kgs sugar, 4kgs rice, four litres of cooking oil, 10kg mealie meal, one pack of matemba, four plastic plates, four spoons, four cups, two bars of soap, two packets of diapers and three packs of sanitary wear. These items were packed in a plastic bin that could be re-used to store food or water.
In addition, staff members throughout the country also donated clothes and nonperishable food items to assist those who had been affected by the cyclone.
The food packs and all that had been collected were then handed over to the Minister of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare, Sekai Nzenza and Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Jennifer Mhlanga for distribution.
Below are pictures from the handover;
Looking on are management and members of staff from the Masawara group of companies as well press. The room is filled with the relief packs being handed over to the Minister and deputy minister.
Zimnat and Sanlam bring relief to Cyclone Idai affected schools
Having been touched by the plight of those affected by Cyclone Idai, Sanlam also partnered with Zimnat to assist schools that had been hit by the cyclone, through purchasing roofing materials for 3 schools in Manicaland.
The first school to receive the donation was Gatsi Community Primary School located in Tamba, Ward 6 Mutasa District. The school received roofing materials worth ZW$60 000 which included 60 roofing sheets, 320 units of roofing timber and 30kg roofing nails. The donation was towards repair of staff quarters damaged by the cyclone.
The schools’ headmaster, Collins Mapaya, expressed his appreciation of the donation, without which, he said, the school would have been unable to repair the damages. Zimnat Mutare branch representatives Andrew Muhwandagara and Bothwell Chingorivo handed over the material on behalf of Zimnat and Sanlam.
A similar donation was also made to Muchadziya Primary School located in the Ngorima Tribal Trust lands of Muchadziya village of the Chimanimani District. The school, which has an enrolment of 1220 learners, had a classroom block blown away leaving a class of Grade 4 learners without a roof to shelter them from the bitter cold of the Manicaland winters. In a bid to restore normalcy to the pupils the school was using 2 tents as a temporary arrangement.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the school headmaster Amos Gwatida said the donation from Zimnat and Sanlam came at an opportune moment as winter was fast approaching. The school was struggling to resource for warm shelter to house the students.
Buwu Primary School, in Mutasa District, was the third school in Chimanimani that Zimnat and Sanlam assisted. The school received 25 roofing sheets, 30 units of timber and 5kg of roofing nails to help in roofing.
The school had two classroom blocks’ roofs blown away during the cyclone and had resorted to hot seating as a coping mechanism to accommodate all the children.
Receiving the roofing materials from Zimnat officials, head teacher Constance Mukura explained the challenges she faced in trying to accommodate the children whose classrooms had been rendered unsafe.
“The school has been forced to implement hot seating in order to accommodate the other learners without safe facilities. However, this has been challenging as with winter the sun sets earlier forcing the young pupils to travel in the dark,” she said.
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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.
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!