#AreYouOnTrackZed ???? 👀

It's amazing how January seems so far from December when the year just begins. And with high hopes of achieving our planned goals as we start the journey, some of us lose track right in the middle, hence the hashtag #AreYouOnTrackZed .

Photo credit : Infinix Mobile

On Friday ,a group of us gathered at Pizza Hut to talk about our lives and check progress of the things we said we'd do this year.
The gathering, hosted by Dj LkM was meant to help us understand the importance of Focusing on the proposed goals as well as learning to plan and prepare as we try to implement our goals.

Personal branding was an issue we tackled because in everything we do, how we present ourselves reflects back on our work.
Practically, we chose Pizza hut as  venue choice to use as an example because of their branding and marketing strategy choices.

" Entering into an already existing market is a risk in business that is worth taking if properly planned. It may seem expensive but proper branding and marketing is good investment if you aim at being a market leader "- (Martha Ashley Nakazwe) The same applies to us personally especially if we are trying to breakout in an industry which has it's own favorites at the top.

"Brand power is everything" - (Roberto Zambia ) it is important to brand yourself in way that reflects your kind of work as that way the brand speaks for itself and you earn the respect from those that are seeing from afar.

#AreYouOnTrackZed #RobertoIntoYou #PizzaHutZambia


Photo credits : Infinix Mobile

#EmotionlessEmotions PartIV

Quietly I weep to myself. Buried under my sheets where it's dark enough.
Wondering how yet again, it's grieving time. Though for a different cause, but with familiar kind of pain.
The kind that reminds you of how much of a loner you are. How much being solitude has led to severe isolation.
Isolated because my dependency on man will cause me more pain as when I need someone to wipe my tears, none is available at my aid.

I wear my Hijab, looking directly into the mirror reminding myself that purity within will not only give "me" inner peace, but will allow "me" learn to love the "me" I strongly started to hate.

The fear of facing the demons roaming around , the fear of sleep because of nightmares , the fear of reality as it seems worse than the nightmares themselves.

How did I get here? I always seem to have my shit together.....
How did I get here?

Avoiding my shrink , because I don't want to talk. But I want to find the cure. I want to find myself. I want to find "me" and tell "me" to help "me" lift off this burden of self pity and guilt that "me" had self inflicted .

........ Until then,
To be continued.

#Ruddietude #EmotionlessEmotions

The Genesis VIP Party #RobertoIntoYou

The "glits and the glam" , the red carpet moment with flashing lights as the Zambezi Magic TV red carpet host 'Scarlet' interacted with the guests along side other media houses as they walked down the runner celebrity style  with the HuaweiP9 camera on standby to save the moments.

November 30th, 2016 - Multiple award winning RnB Singer/Song writer Roberto launched his latest video "Into You" at the Cigar Lounge in Lusaka Zambia which was hosted by Zambezi Magic -ZedTop10 presenter "Benas" .
The Bratherhood powered event saw performances off their new album "Genesis" which features Ice Kid ,Mandela ,Young Riko ,Ricky Panton and of course General Ozzy with the icing on the Cake that evening being the premier of the "Into You" video which too is on the album.

#RobertoIntoYou

Below is the "Into You" audio download link with lyrics courtesy of Brathahood and Zambian Music Blog.

http://www.zambianmusicblog.co/roberto-into-you/

#BrandLover #HuaweiP9 #ZambeziMagic #ZedTop10 #TheCigarLounge #Brathahood

Twitter @MarthaNakazwe
Instagram @QueenRuddieZambia

#MyClique 📷 💏💑Zamtelling it!!!!

 

#AboutFridayNight #ZamtelClique #ZametMediaCocktail #HadLotsOfFun with my #MyClique !

Last week Friday, we in media were treated to a networking "media cocktail " where we interacted with different kinds of clique's from both radio and television with the common 'connec' being Zamtel who's aim is for Zambian's to make it their primary sim.

" when we say buy Zambian, it is because 'Zamtel' is Zambian and is for the people " Mr Evans Muhanga - Chief Marketing Officer Zamtel, emphasising the support of local product saying "We need to change the game and be able to support local companies and generate resources locally".

My Top 3 reasons to join the network

• Local is laka -  Zamtel is a local company and all profits made stay within the country ✔

• The #CallAllNetworks promotion - This deal right here is the thing and the package it comes with is one you can not resist ✔

•#MyClique - The new campaign for University and College students who finally have an opportunity to become Zamtel brand ambassadors just by taking pictures with their " clique " (Friends ,a club of a society of like-minded individuals ) and posting it on Facebook ,Instagram & Twitter using hashtag #MyClique ✔ www.zamtel.zm


Watch me go green supporting local !!!! #ZamtelClique #LiveLifeToday #ZamtelIt .

Twitter @MarthaNakazwe
Instagram @QueenRuddieZambia

#BrandLover !

My domestic tours this year

On January 1st,2016 My team (The over-achievers ) and I met up to bless and speak positivity over this year, I prayed to God that I wanted to be a domestic tourist and I guess the big "Guy" up there answered my prayer too quick it was unbelievable .

As we celebrate *World Tourism Day* today, I choose to write about my domestic tourism experiences this year that I choose to call "Workations" as they all came about because of work and the brands I have had  to work under this year.

1 . Livingstone tour #HuntersDry .
During my Secondary school ,History was my favorite subject and finally I met David Livingstone ,walked on the ground he stepped on and of course got soaked at the Mosi-Oa-Tunya falls (that he named "Victoria Falls" in honour of Queen Victoria of Britain. ), I took a walk in Chief Mukuni's village were I picked a skull of a goatthat was eaten by one of the Lions in the area ,and yes I did take a walk with the Lions and the highlight of my trip was the bungee slide at the gorge on the Zambia-Zimbabwe bridge which was the best time of my life.

2. Siavonga Tour #MinuteMaidPulpy

 You know that fantasy of lying on the beach in a bikini enjoying the sun ,listening to the waves as the water runs across the lake ? Well I fulfilled that fantasy in April during the Easter holiday after an early morning of a Sampling activation .
Took a trip down to the Kariba dam and walked to the Zambia-Zimbabwe  boarder then went back to the beach at the hotel where I had the most peaceful "me time" as I lay on the beach.

3. Gwembe tour #MunyuCity
This was the most memorable of my life as I crossed the knife bridge before getting to Chief Munyumbwe of the Tonga people of Gwembe district's palace where we were served with Chibwantu (Traditional Tonga drink) upon arrival as we waited for Nshima to be ready while having a conversation with the Chief himself.

4. Trip to the Copperbelt on a Track #CastleLarger #Cosafa2016

One would wonder why a trip to 'Kopala' would excite me because I come from that part of Zambia . Lol But wait ,it was my first time riding on the riding on a truck on the Great North Road, reading a novel by my favorite writer while sipping on my tea.

5. Trip to Kafue #TeamBuilding

Benefits of having the coolest bosses , on African Freedom Day we took a trip down South to Tiffany's Canyon where I had my Charlie's Angel moment with 2 of my best friends .

6. Trip to Chaminuka #JourneyThroughTheZambezi #UnileverZambia

Recently went on a one day trip to Chisamba at Chaminuka Lodge where we greeted by the wildlife such as the giraffe's, antelopes and Monkeys before even reaching the actual resort. Had a lovely view of the Zambezi river as I  stood by the balcony with my girls thanking God for my job and for fulfilling my domestic touring dreams and I prayed for more trips now beyond boarders.

@MarthaNakazwe - Twitter
@QueenRuddieZambia - Instagram

#DomesticTourism #ZambiaTheRealAfrica #TIA #DomesticTourZambia
#WorldTourismDay

Coke Studio Launch

"A world without music can only be described by one word - Dull"  - Takunda Jinda  , on thursday night while i was, amoung  Musicians ,Actors and my fellow A-List socialites ,I had an opportunity to experience a listening session where Zambian icon Cleo IceQueen launched the latest series of Coke Studio.
The "Coke Studio" which seeks to bring together and show case the diversity of African music talent wowed us, thanks to Coca-Cola. As we watched some of the music video's off the series such as "Simunye" the collaboration by Cleo IceQueen and Bucie of South Africa as well "Special Fi Mi" by South African rapper Aka and Patoranking of Nigeria .

As a brand lover, it was amazing to see all the 'Somebodies' come together over a Coke and drink away as they enjoyed the live set of music.

Here is my breakdown of the brand as observed last night .

• Product - Coca-Cola , one of the worlds #1 drink .
• Branding - The coke bottle used as bulb holder was as an authentic expression of art that was eye catchy .
•Coke studio set - Companies go out of their ways to have the perfect set at events ,Coca-Cola gave us the experience of a live studio session with a band.
• Branded goodie packs - Everybody loves a free gift, even better when it's branded. The trick is for the recipient to feel special as the company awards them for their loyalty with hopes that they stay loyal to the brand.

Looking forward to watching season2 of CokeStudio. #MusicLover #CokeLover #BrandLover @MarthaNakazwe 

loss of self

Self confidence,
Self esteem,
Self pride,
Self worth ,
The importance of loving thy self. Accepting thy self.

Overworking myself, i started forgetting me.
I was more focused on becoming her....
Her! The girl i want to be in future.
Balancing between online and offline life,I had no life in between.

07am - 9pm daily of the day job, 10pm to 5am of online work/ reading, 2 days a week of radio.... To me it seemed normal. I mean, its no sweet without sweat right? But then again,if only the hours applied ,paid as much.

My social life was between my diary and I, sharing my thoughts on paper ,as i suffered the feeling of being alone though with so many around .
So many around yet no one to talk to.

The fear of not being able to be like the August i so tirelessly try to build.
That thought, that there is what caused me stress.

Focusing more on my ambitions and not on my own self ....
I watched him slip away but not bothered by emotions ,the moment passed like it wasn't there.
I watched my friendships close, as i was nolonger the cheerful friendly me... Even family couldn't understand me.
I couldn't understand me.

Without realizing, my body started to shrink, my mirror deceived me daily as i saw the same "good looking sexy" me as always.
Slowly people started to ask but i paid no mind.
Comments on social media changed ....
The emphasise was too much to ignore but i just didn't get it.

I mean,how would i forget to eat. How would i ,the foodie not make even a bowl of noodles?
How did i get there?
How did i manage staying 72-120 hours awake ,working and with no food or water .
Not that there was non, I had enough...

Sleep was a struggle ,I had nightmares ,I was seeing things, I was hearing things....I couldnt close my eyes.

My therapist was patient, but me .. I wasn't ready to deal with my issues.
I missed sessions,
I missed his calls,
I gave up....

I hated me. I hated what i became of me.
Buried online, pretending all is okay .. I watched myself slowly die .
Passing out became normal.
I always woke up eventually..lol.
Hopeless as everything that defined me fell apart. It was meaningless to be hopeful.
Medical reports said i was malnourished, Funny .
"At my age? Malnutrition? Aren't those diseases for the ..... Omg! It's really real"

The shame. The shame!!!
The agony,
The pain when someone asks for my "weight loss diet plan"
I kept calm.

Tortured mentally by the demons that act the scary scenes in night mares,the voices of those i couldn't see ,the shadows and shades of people flashing quickly in day light ....

Who am i????

Meditations ,Prayer.... Nothing was healing me ,forgetting that it is a psychological thing.
I had completely fallen apart.

I needed time away,alone....My rehab started with me accepting reality, remembering that patience is a virtue and that am no superwoman.
As i bungee slid, i slid off the negative vibe and crossed the gorge to me starting over.

No moment lasts forever #ThisTooShallPass

#MentalHealth #Ruddietude

#EmotionlessEmotions Part III

In fear of repeated occurances , I decided to stay away.
Away from any compromising situations...
Situations that would make me slip off again.

I easily get attached
I easily slip off ...
My attention is easily drawn by the person that manages to get it .

My weakness, I lay my eggs only in one basket.
Unfortunately it always drops and i lose all my eggs.

Well...  Lost eggs sometimes are lost because they rot right?

The thought of facing the fear of repeated occurances does seem scary, But worth the try.

Worth the try because the person is worth risking it on...
"Risks" ! Am already getting goose bumps because all this is new....

.....

To be continued...

#Ruddietude #EmotionlessEmotions

#EmotionlessEmotions PartII

..... Dear diary 19.02.16

Random thoughts, But not random influence.
Influence originating from what's around me.

The energy is familiar,nothing new .
The feeling on the other hand is not familiar.
Is it me ? Is it my mind?

The realities i avoid ,but subconsciously i face .
I mean i face the fear of my reality .
My anxiety, my adreanaline.
My mind, my thoughts ...

I meditate daily, i find peace.
I pray daily, i find comfort.

 But ,my weakness is i do not know how not to worry about the tomorrow i do not want to come.
I do not wish for this moment to last forever.
I wish for us to last forever.

Yes. Us!
You.
Me.
Us..... Baby, Us!

The thrill,
The desire,
The time .... Limited time,
The excitement .

You are my favourite drug.
That illegal drug.
I sneak around just to get it.
Expensive, yet keeps me going.

Consciously ,Subconsciously ..... Whatever. My adreanaline is as active.
My fears, My anxiety.

I pray ,I find happiness.
I meditate and keep calm.

Above all , I am happy.
Happy because "Us" makes me happy.
The thrill is addictively sweet.


#Ruddietude
#ThisTooShallPass

How to overcome the fear of #Failure in a start up Business

 Negative energy's such as the  #FearOfFailure can affect any start up #business as it will influence and affect your confident levels .

Overcoming the fear of failure may seem impossible but i believe the best way to overcome it is by KEEPING YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE!
Yes, the Prize , the very thing that you want to achieve so badly  , the same thing that prompted you to get up and start that buiness .

Entrepreneurship is not as easy as it seems. The sacrifices it comes with are so many. Time is never enough, Finances are not always accessible and if not careful ,it may lead to debt. Friends and Family don't always understand your dream and hence their support sometimes is insuffient which may also contribute to the thoughts of failing as you feel less people believe your your future success .

* Like I said "Keep your eyes on the prize" ,Your success does not depend on how many believe in you ,it is totally dependant on how you overcome the negative energy's that surround you.

Besides, the hardest part of starting your own business is the beginning and the fact that you have already started is a big step .

#entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #business #fearOfFailure #Ruddietude

Daddy ... Oh Daddy

So yesterday i spent my day traveling ,10 hour bus ride was heaven to me as i had a whole bunch of mixed emotions that i wasn't ready to express and i found peace as i looked out the window ,seeing endless bushes ,with the clouds dark as the rains poured the whole way through ..

Oh daddy...... Daddy!  Dadddddddddy! Its now 15 years and I still miss you the same, maybe even more now as i grow up and wish i had a second opinion, Your opinion not just everybody else as I transition into the lady am becoming. "What would he say? what would he think?  " I always ask myself.

Everyday i hear stories of "daddy's" that live their children, some that deny responsibilities , others are around but too busy to notice their children ... And i ask God why he lets the mean ones live ,and you that had time for us die...

Daddy, in this world full of the scornful ,full of people that pretend to love us, yet all they want is to use us... Who will protect me? I thought daddy's are there to be our "super hero's" , I wish i had my super hero everyday as i face the challenge of having to deal with wolves in sheep clothing.

I accepted that you are gone ,gone for good but my grief of loss is persistant as it pops up randomly . But today, i feel even more grieved as I am at a stage in life where am battling with decisions that will affect my future in a good or bad way depending on the path i'll take.
Am scared, fearful but i represent you ,i carry your name "Nakazwe" with pride For in me they see you.
I try to be strong, but sometimes being strong makes so weak.....

"August" Impressive and Respected , i choose to represent you that way . And overcome failure, as you said "My daughters will never be vulnaurable" and yes I choose to stand firm.

Daddy ,Ngolwe Sikazwe continue to rest in peace as your memory lives on here on earth .

29 January 2001 ....  You went too early.

#Ruddietude #ThisTooShallPass

Importance of interacting with your clientele #SocialMedia

I don't like refering to myself as  a #Tweeleb "Twitter Celeb" , though thats a term that we get refered to as when you are super active and have a good following , but then again not like i even have a good following yet. lol, I still have a long way to go.

Living my life on twitter and basically tweeting everything i do, eat , drink , watch and also mention people am with is  lifestyle i adopted due to my twitter addiction and due to my consistency i realized i was drawing some attention and also influencing some followers with my tweets and with that some people would ask me to tweet for them ,share links , posts and so on.
Without realizing ,i was offering free marketing services until one day early 2014, I got an email from Ground Focus to help hype premier the Dstv lifestyle show "Kumwesu"  season 2 on social media .There and then i realised my audience was bigger than i thought.
In the same year, (september 2014) while "twatching" ,watching tv and tweeting every channel i was tuning into ,i got a DM from DSTV awarding me a shopping voucher because they thought i was amazing and that taught me my second lesson "they want me to keep watching dstv and indirectly marketing for them hence the awarding of incentives to loyal viewers" .

I can go all day naming the "freebies" i've received off social media without having to compete for them but thats besides my reason of writing today.
Social Media Marketing is the quickest and easiest way of reaching out to your audience and clientele regardless of what sector in society you represent whether Creative arts or  Corporate as the internet is the fastest growing "planet"  such that brand owners ,company's and individuals are seeing the need to use this modern form of marketing for a bigger reach to generate high profits ,sales and also get direct feedback ,opinions and views from clients and audience online .

As a practicing Social Media Marketing and online Business development Consultant i have come to understand the importance of knowing your target audience and understanding the need to keep them enganged and loyal to your products and services as there is always something better out there .
Interacting with your clientele and audience will not only make them fall inlove with your brand but will keep them loyal as everybody ,everyone in business wants to feel important and with no questions asked, your consumers,audience and clientele needs to feel as important .


#SocialMedia #SocialMediaMarketing #Marketing #Ruddietude

"baby, I want some"

You know those moments when you see a guy and instantly crush on him but can't openly tell him because "you are a girl, girls don't step up to a guy and express their feelings". The awkwardness though! In my case ,i came across this guy during 2014 Bigbrother Africa Auditions that i thought was hot and my friend Tanny convinced me to tell him and so I did and right there we got into a conversation and forgot about the awkward moment of me having made the first move. The act itself made me feel good about myself and boosted my selfesteem of being able to freely express myself even towards the opposite sex with no fear and it got me thinking , how did the guy feel? was his esteem degraded? did he wish he approached me first?

 It comes back to couples, how many ladies freely speak out and tell their Men that "they want some" without the thought of having to wonder whether or not he'll think she's just a horny freak. Are we just going to continue to die inside because of tradional or cultural values?

What about our personal values? How come the guys are naturally confident ? What boosts their ego because i believe in equality and freedom of expression in whatever way without fear or limitation regardless of gender . What if the man is not delivering to the womans expectation? How will he know if he is not overuled or criticized?

 #Ruddietude #GenderEquality #Feminist #Feminism #BlackOfSteel

The man is just as vulnerable

We all believe the man is the head, the man is the protector and he prides in it but in reality and in the cases of #GenderBasedViolence men are as equally vulnerable as women. They too are weak in certain instances.

A few weeks ago, i had gone to reduce the size of my dress in kamwala and the tailor was a man so I asked him his views over the topic and his response was "who would believe me if i said my wife had beaten me up, even the police don't believe us men " "mukazi wako anga kumenye ninshy weo wankala che? " is a common question at the police stations.
The loss of pride as a man is what generally keeps them quiet as they cover up the shame of failing to defend themselves from offenders.
Sexually, reports on men/boys being sexually abused are not common  but that does not mean it doesn't happen. We hear of stories of how men are molested ,defiled and raped by fellow men in prisons, schools and so on but how many of them can open up and share their stories as victims of GBV?

The embarrassment and shame felt is what makes "us" bound. How will people see me, How will the community take my story, will i be able to stand the judgement and critism ?
Mentally, the victims are traumatized and tortured and this ends up ruining their social lives. Most victims also end up as offenders .

The fight against gender based violence in Zambia continues with hopes that men can come out too more often and report cases

#GenderBasedViolence #MaleVictimsOfGBV #GBV #Ruddietude