In New York some are relocating to smaller towns, they cannot keep up with the expensive and over crowded life in the mega city! In Harare many failed to get buses to their rural homes before the lockdown. Lets look at the informal sector; Cross borders, Kombis and Mshika Shikas, Vendors and more. These businesses have been hit the hardest. It is going to be 2 months in lockdown in 2 weeks time. Are landlords going to get rental arrears? If you relied on rent as an income, you should not rely on the income coming regularly as it used to.
On a recent BBC feature, economists in SA puts the unemployment rate at 50% up from 30%. One in two South Africans now unemployed. Its understandable why they are coming up with policies and measures to protect their territory. Our diaspora remittances expected to take a huge knock.
In USA, the last statistics I saw during the midweek showed 36.5 million unemployed and these numbers keep increasing each week.
Apologies for less benign news, lets look at the positives
- Agriculture: Which industry was amongst the first to be allowed to operate during the lockdown? It’s Agriculture and it will remain so for the foreseeable future. I have a lot of inquiries of people interested in starting businesses….and am pointing everyone to this field. Google search the Agriculture Value Chain to appreciate the many opportunities that exist in this sector.
- Farming land value increase: So you have land in rural areas and you have ignored it over the past years? If New Yorkers are packing their bags and leaving for smaller cities how about us? The value of real estate in urban areas is taking a hit but the value of rural land doing in the opposite direction. Urbanites likely to relocate, some diasporans too. Sabhukus will be receiving tones of inquiries from land seekers and expect them to get busy as they assess idle land. There will be irresistible offers and do not be surprised if your land is parcelled out.
- Minerals Discoveries: We were once in this situation and we know the Almighty blesses us in times of difficulty. Who remembers the Marange Diamonds? Do not speak loudly about this but in Chihota area there is good news…diamond discoveries some time last year. If its your area find out from locals. In Mhondoro good news too….some rich gold deposits by villagers muminda chaimo. Not sure what Beta Bricks is really doing in Musana area but locals suspect mineral exploration. There are many such stories from across the country. In Mhondoro some relatives are now fighting over the gold discoveries. Mumwe akapihwa munda akati handirime ndoita zvekutown…munda uya wave ne value manje but its too late!
We will continue with discussion. The good thing is we are wired to look down upon rural land, it has little value, does not have title deeds but the value is increasing with each day of the lockdown. We covered rural opportunities in our latest book, look at chapter 8 for inspiration.
The Geography maps you studied at school were a fraud! They hid crucial opportunities information from our minds! Raise your hand if you saw Marange Diamonds on the map?
Stay Blessed
Zim Business Ideas and Network (ZBIN)
