Happy new month to our readers. We have been away for a while developing a new market of short video reels. And we have done extremely well in documenting our history, featuring our members and promoting our brand. Our first feature of the month is Doren Chimuka behind Valfin Investments which is a Zimbabwean private equity investment and garment manufacturing firm based in Southerton, Harare. Operating alongside Valfin Manufacturers, the company specializes in clothing manufacturing, private label production, and retail supply.

Quick Facts

• Company Name: Valfin Investments (operating alongside Valfin Manufacturers)

• Industry: Private Equity, Garment Manufacturing, Textile & Apparel

• Headquarters: Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe

• Founded: 2012

• Core Business: Corporate wear, private label clothing, and retail fashion manufacturing

Key Business Holdings & Operations

1. Garment Manufacturing

Valfin Investments operates major textile and apparel production facilities in Harare. Its factories produce:

• Corporate wear and uniforms

• Private label clothing for third-party brands

• Retail fashion lines

2. Vertically Integrated Supply Chain

Valfin operates a vertically integrated supply chain model.

Its manufacturing factories, including the Valfin and Bravette factories, directly supply and restock its retail store networks, ensuring control over production, quality, and distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Where is Valfin Investments located?

Valfin Investments is headquartered in Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe, with major garment manufacturing facilities in Harare.

When was Valfin Investments established?

The firm was established in 2012 as a clothing manufacturing company and has since expanded through strategic acquisitions and corporate restructuring.

What does Valfin Investments do?

Valfin Investments is a private equity and manufacturing firm that produces corporate wear, private label apparel, and retail fashion, and integrates manufacturing directly with retail distribution.

What is the relationship between Valfin Investments and Valfin Manufacturers?

Valfin Investments operates alongside Valfin Manufacturers as part of the same industrial group focused on garment production and investment in Zimbabwe.

Contact: +263 77 389 7652

Doren Chimuka.

Collin Gatahwi (Advocate Cocoe), a Legal Practitioner, Conveyancer, and Notary Public, delivered this Premium Chat to the ZBIN family regarding Family Trusts.

Q: ​What is a Family Trust?

​A family trust is an estate planning tool used to manage an individual’s or couple’s assets during their lifetime and outline how those assets are distributed after death.

​Legal Framework: Governed by the Deeds Registries Act [Chapter 20:05].

​Creation: Created via a Deed of Trust and registered through the Registrar of Deeds.

​Requirement: Must be registered by a Notary Public (note: not all legal practitioners are Notaries Public).
​Essential Elements of a Trust Deed
​A valid and legally enforceable Deed of Trust must clearly identify the Founder (creator), Trustees (managers), and Beneficiaries (recipients). It must also state a lawful purpose, clearly define the trust property, outline trustee powers, specify distribution rules, include succession/amendment clauses, and feature an acceptance clause signed by all parties.
​Pros and Cons of a

Family Trust

​Advantages

•√​Perpetual Succession: The trust continues to exist and hold assets seamlessly even if a trustee dies or becomes incapacitated.
•√​Protection from Creditors: Because the trust owns the assets (not the individuals), creditors cannot claim trust property.
•√​Tax Benefits: Trust property does not fall under the Deceased Estates Succession Act upon the founder’s death, avoiding standard deceased estate taxes.

•√​Efficiency & Privacy: Avoids the lengthy Master of the High Court process required for Wills. Because it is contractual, the distribution of the estate remains entirely private.
•√​Dispute Prevention: Helps eliminate inheritance feuds among relatives since property ownership does not change hands upon death.

​Disadvantages
•​Costs: Higher administration costs to set up and maintain.
•​Loss of Personal Control: Once assets are transferred, they belong to the trust and are managed by the trustees. Treating trust property as personal property is considered fraud.

​Key Takeaways & Misconceptions

​Trusts for Single Individuals: Single individuals can set up a family trust. They can appoint a co-trustee (like a parent or sibling) and name themselves and their “unborn children” as beneficiaries. The deed can later be amended to include or substitute a spouse.

​Taxation (ZIMRA): It is a misconception that all trusts are taxed. Only income-generating trusts (earning from rentals, business profits, dividends, etc.) are taxed. If profits are distributed, beneficiaries pay income tax on their share; if income is retained within the trust, the trust itself is liable for the tax.

Admin Notes*
This was a star Presentation by Advocate Cocoe and only included 40% of her presentation and this excludes Q&Answers.

Advocate Cocoe is a member of ZBIN and can be contacted on +263 77 967 4674