Celtel, our biggest mobile phone provider in Zambia is spending a fortune rebranding itself as Zain, the name of its parent company. There's the new logo up there. It's rapidly appearing on everything from billboards to airport luggage trolleys in Livingstone. Zambians tend to add a double 'e' on to words ending in 'n' so the new company has become Zainee (As Sun Hotels are 'Sunee').

Interesting - here's the definition:

"zany [zane-ee]
Adjective
[zanier, zaniest] comical in an endearing way [Italian dialect Zanni, nickname for Giovanni John; traditional name for a clown]

Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006"

I'm not sure the comical performance of Zain is endearing in any way at all, their lack of provision of a reliable network is irritating at best, and very annoying and frustrating at worst. One wishes they were spending the money on improving their network and service and not unnecessary rebranding!

Oh well too much to hope for these days I guess!
Posted: 6 August 2008 at 05:06