MoneyGram Unveiled as Headline Sponsor of Zim Achievers Awards for Second Year Running

LONDON  - Global money transfer company MoneyGram is the main sponsor of this year's edition of the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards (ZAA) due to take place on Saturday 20th April at the Millenium Gloucester Hotel in London.  

Announcing the sponsorship at a press conference held at MoneyGram's London headquarters today, ZAA Chief Executive Conrad Mwanza said: "We are really grateful to MoneyGram for supporting this event from its inception three years ago. And with this year's sponsorship, they've now gone two years in a row as our main corporate supporter. We receive their backing as clear evidence of their ongoing commitment to our community and also as an expression of their shared hope in the success of our home country."

MoneyGram's Marketing Executive Oluwaseyi Oke said: "Giving to and supporting the communities that use our services is another way of saying thank you as without our customers, there is no MoneyGram! We are delighted to be associated with the Zimbabwean Community and ZAA in particular to celebrate and honour excellence within this great community. That is why we are the headline sponsor of ZAA for the second year running. In the UK, customers can send money to Zimbabwe from every UK Post Office, Thomas Cook and anywhere you see the MoneyGram sign or online at www.moneygram.co.uk. It costs just £4.90 to send £100.00 and money arrives in minutes."

ZAA Executive Producer Peter Soko said this year's awards show is set to scale the heights of glamour and thrill audiences with an impressive repertoire of entertainment to be headlined by the US-based singer and actress, Tinashe Kachingwe. Dubbed as the next Beyonce, the 20-year old singing sensation has opened for acts such as Justin Bieber and performed with Grammy award-winning Cash Money/Young Money rapper Lil' Wayne, sold close to one million copies of her acclaimed mixtape 'Reverie', and has acted alongside Charlie Sheen in the popular CBS comedy Two And a Half Men.

"This year, Zimbabweans can expect an even more professionally organised awards show at a prestigious hotel in South Kensington, one of London's most fashionable districts, and enjoy a full three course meal, including a champagne reception and wine on the table, all for the very reasonable price of £65.00," Soko said, adding that this year's after-party has been organised in-house and will be a great improvement on last year's.

ZAA also announced a list of this year's recipients of the Chairman's Awards. Notable recipients include former African Development Bank Vice-President Prof Nkosana Moyo, who receives the Chairman's Honorary Award, and legendary musician Oliver Mtukudzi who receives a Lifetime Contribution to Music and Culture international award.

In keeping with its social responsibility policy, ZAA will this year be supporting the following charities:
Ndoro Children Charity
Diaspora Relief
Ubuntu Company Investments
Pahushamwari Trust

Now in its third year, the ZAA are a distinctly special awards ceremony seeking to recognise Zimbabweans who have pushed the limits against all odds to raise the Zimbabwean flag high and do both themselves and their fellow countrymen proud. Now a prominent red carpet fixture on African community calendar, the ZAA is the only event that pays tribute to Zimbabwean success across all walks of life, emphasising inspiring achievements and highlighting inspirational role models in the fields of business, sport, entertainment, philanthropy and popular arts and culture.

The shorlist of 2013 award nominees will be announced at the Nominations Launch Party on Saturday 2nd March from 6.00pm at:

Henry's Canary Wharf
Unit C West
India Quay, Canary Wharf
London
E14 4AX

Nearest Station: West India Quay or Canary Wharf. For further details on the launch party as well as tickets, voting and any other information please see  www.zimachievers.com