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The Tobacco Research Board, trading as Kutsaga, continues its remarkable streak of achievements, having secured two additional prestigious awards on Saturday, 13 September 2024.
The Board’s Public Relations and Communications Officer, Mr. Tatenda Mugabe, won the highly coveted Silver Award for Best Public Relations Practitioner of 2024 at the Exceptional Marketing Awards, hosted by the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe in Harare. On the same day, Kutsaga was recognized as the First Prize Winner in the Tobacco Industry participants category at the Mashonaland East Agricultural Show.
Is this coincidence, luck, or hard work? These recent accolades further cement Kutsaga’s reputation as a leading player in the tobacco and agricultural research sectors, coming on the heels of their success at the 114th edition of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.
At this prestigious event, Kutsaga was awarded the Best Organisation Exhibiting Sustainable Conservation Practices and Second Runner-Up Overall Best Exhibitor, a category won by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces respectively.
Speaking after receiving the awards, Mr. Tatenda Mugabe expressed his gratitude, attributing the Board’s success to a committed team dedicated to upholding the highest standards in innovation, sustainability, and public relations.
“These awards reflect Kutsaga’s relentless pursuit of excellence, not just in research and innovation, but also in maintaining a positive public image and fostering relationships within the industry,” said Mr. Mugabe.
A Year of unprecedented success for Kutsaga. The latest wins are part of an outstanding year for Kutsaga, with numerous accolades already achieved in 2024. Earlier this year, the Tobacco Research Board was honored at various prestigious platforms, including the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) National Business Awards, where they secured 1st Runner-Up in the 2023 Innovation of the Year Award. At the ZNCC Mashonaland Region Awards, Kutsaga earned the Winner’s Certificate in the Innovation of the Year category.
Further affirming their industry leadership, Kutsaga was also recognized by the Mhondoro-Ngezi Show Society, winning the Companies Category with a Certificate of Achievement in 2024. In addition, Kutsaga claimed the Agricultural Inputs Exporters Award for 2023 at the ZimTrade Awards, demonstrating their significant contribution to the country’s agricultural exports.
All these hard punches are being witnessed at a time when Kutsaga has onboarded a new Chief Executive Officer, Dr Frank Magama, an industrious young researcher who is driving innovation and sustainability. Kutsaga, which is a parastatal, has also been diligently reassigning its staff to strategic areas of the business to improve operational efficiency in the face of its impending self-sustenance agenda.
Kutsaga’s success is underpinned by its commitment to innovation and sustainability, particularly within the broader agricultural industry added Dr Magama.
“The Board has played a key role in driving research aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity while adhering to environmentally friendly practices towards household economic emancipation and sustainability,” said Dr Magama.
As Kutsaga celebrates its most recent achievements, the organization remains focused on its core mission of advancing agricultural research and innovation. The double awards reflect the Board’s continued leadership, not only in the tobacco sector but also in the broader agricultural and environmental initiatives. Kutsaga’s future looks brighter than ever as it continues to set benchmarks in research excellence, sustainability, and public relations.