Airtel Malawi terminates Piksy’s contract
Airtel Malawi on Wednesday finally announced that they have parted ways with its brand ambassador Piksy real name Evans Zangazanga following the termination of his contract.
This comes barely a week after The Daily Times revealed that there was a mist surrounding Piksy’s contract which was said to have been put on hold.
But during a press release held in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Airtel Malawi Brands and Communications Manager Isabel Kachinjika let the cat out of the bag that they had parted ways with the ‘Uncle Short One,’ hit maker.
Kachinjika reiterated that the change in the company’s strategies has necessitated the non-renewal of Piksy’s contract.
“Piksy has done a commendable job and we applaud him for that. With him, Airtel managed to engage more with the youth. With him, Airtel’s commitment to promoting arts, music and talent was deeply entrenched,” she said.
Kachinjika added that Piksy has ably represented the Airtel Malawi brand both locally and internationally and that with their partnership, they have managed to have a mutually beneficial relationship.
“We are in a dynamic mobile telecommunications industry that engages various marketing strategies. Being a dynamic industry, we need to keep being innovative in coming up with new trendy approaches as we develop the brand. So in the 2015/16 financial year for Airtel which begins in April, the brand adopted a new strategic direction,” she said.
Kachinjika said it was in this background that they have resorted to engage a new strategy that shall ride on the success that was registered through the brand ambassador approach.
She ruled out any rivalry between the two parties with the termination of the contract although speculations have been rife that Airtel Malawi decided not to renew the contract because of Piksy’s performance in the industry of late.
“Let people not construe that our parting denote disagreements between Piksy and Airtel Malawi because we will still be working together on other errands if there be that need,” said Kachinjika.
She said Piksy started working with them right before they signed one year contract in November 2013 adding that he has been with them since the end of the contract in November last year.
On his part, Piksy, who was presented with gifts by Airtel including an I phone said he has been working with the mobile company since his contract ended last year.
“I have learnt a lot through this partnership with Airtel Malawi and now the corporate world can trust me. It’s sad to part ways because I have grown to be part of the company’s family but I am still part of the family and I am ready to work with them whenever they need my expertise,” said Piksy whose journey started off with Atumwi, where he starred alongside Nicholas Mbonera flying with the ‘Sendeza Analysis’ style.
Piksy admitted that he lost some opportunities which came on his table when Airtel Malawi put him on hold on the contract.
He has since disclosed that he will be working with Unicef as an ambassador for planning and population and that he has also been approached by another organisation whose deal he is yet to strike.
Among others, Airtel Malawi engaged Piksy in a number of their projects ranging from creating the catchy ‘Yabooka,’ song for their Yabooka scratch cards and the ‘Timaitha’ theme song as well as being part of our Mwezi Wawala music project and club 09 youth products jingle.
Meanwhile, Piksy has also announced that he will launch his latest album Mthunzi in July.
“I am parting with Airtel as a brand ambassador but we will still be working together especially in my music journey. This continued relationship has made it easy for the company (Airtel) to sponsor my next album’s launch in July,” said Piksy.
Piksy who released the song ‘Tsoka Liyenda,’ which he put together in remembrance of the original creator Robert Gwirani, said he feels that he has matured in his music career and promised to give people good songs in his album.
“My debut album Maso concentrated more in introducing myself in the music arena but now I have matured in the industry hence giving people Mthunzi,” he said.
Piksy further said that his experience in the music industry has accorded him several opportunities that raise peoples curiosity to look up to him as their role model.
Piksy said the 16-track album dwells more on life experiences and that he has featured other local artists including Gwamba and Nesnes.
The artist also said that he will be releasing the album’s DVD in October. – Additional reporting by Sam Banda Jnr
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