Diaspora Matters

Our Zim forum now has 74,000 members and growing at a rate of 1000 new members per week.  In South Africa, our members are now 95,000. We have over 50 Whatsapp groups with some of them created more than 6 years ago. The forums facilitate market access, information access and networking.

Advertising on the forum is one key area our members are interested in with a lot of business being conducted on a daily basis.

Our guidelines for advertising on the forum are as follows;

• Include all key details in your advert (Product, Price and Contact Number)
• Keep your advert short as most people have a short attention span of less than 7 seconds
• Adding images of products being sold including a logo is an added bonus
• Have a Whatsapp business account with a catalogue of products for sale
• Engage Graphic Designers to create a professional advert or try out on free graphic designing apps found on www.canva.com

Example of a great advert

Group Rules

• No political messages, divisive topics, nud
• es or porn
• No scams or ponzi scheme adverts tolerated
• No spamming (incessantly posting the same ad to the same group)
• We encourage participation and networking on forums

In April 2020 we conducted a free Digital Marketing training that empowered more than 700 members. It was practical based and if you missed the training our book Digital Marketing for Zimbabweans is available in E-copy for US$1 each.

We encourage our members to constantly review their adverts and benchmark with best practice.

Some of our newest groups,

ZBIN Group Links

Norton

https://chat.whatsapp.com/BfaMrp5Icj7Hj6ozLmrmhl

Network Marketing
https://chat.whatsapp.com/F3jUC2aq2xCAqxURRLq7jY

Harare West
https://chat.whatsapp.com/BjN9jWKV3irGKILTixzdHQ

Masvingo
https://chat.whatsapp.com/HdbhdXhToqP4B7K8xqQ1HO

Bindura
https://chat.whatsapp.com/FnBbx2Rh38JLa0q49GMZak

Kadoma
https://chat.whatsapp.com/G05pc5PC8YNKl2YeJ45Zdf

Marondera

https://chat.whatsapp.com/HV9auNWmmmK8OV1kuQbMFU

Harare
https://chat.whatsapp.com/C0yYm6Gyps80xJKm3MTRIP

Mozambique

https://chat.whatsapp.com/IRiDR0l1XXyFzUY2yjlNkh

Exclusive Socials

https://chat.whatsapp.com/EJIJMdZIdQS2awn8k8Omy5

Groceries
https://chat.whatsapp.com/HDL9ELW9XiHFdJrb3p22z6

Farmers
https://chat.whatsapp.com/F4FvEMopFkI8YpH11zUadh

Chinhoi
https://chat.whatsapp.com/C6RKjT7yA5M5voxhKDuXK6

Financial Literacy
https://chat.whatsapp.com/IYLFmeSDALVKZ7MAgWSVMb

Eastlea

https://chat.whatsapp.com/KGwcwu2pc4jHcZ5jukI7Bd

Chiredzi

https://chat.whatsapp.com/BS91GEuuxdwDhNJ91PjXwW

Papaya
https://chat.whatsapp.com/DxQKpcnpvpCG70DZ5A8Oti

SA
https://chat.whatsapp.com/C8iYUKXelpc9xRBAWO49Lh

Mabvuku

https://chat.whatsapp.com/ErIeMaK9pM1KY42o741kaw

Trending Opportunities
https://chat.whatsapp.com/Kln1Tjtrf0H2irenMiQrrE

Harare North

https://chat.whatsapp.com/BfwdnETfIrZ1noDKm1kC6d

(ZBIN Financial Literacy series part 2)

The greatest fraud to ever take place on the continent was the non involvement of Africans in the development of the educational syllabi. So education was an off the shelf package delivered and Africans grabbed it with open arms without critiquing it.

When you went to college, did you have a lecture of why you were studying certain subjects, who had developed the syllabi and why? Did you cover the future relevancy of the syllabi?

Did you also cover the African educational system; the advantages and disadvantages?

So we didn’t ask critical questions and now we sometimes get excited of fancy financial terms and yet they have been in existence for thousands of years and our forefathers had perfected it.

Lets keep this post short,

Financial literacy is all about financial freedom. The focus is on acquisition of assets and minimising acquisition of liabilities. You do not put all of your eggs in one basket but spread your assets acquisition in different areas such as;

Real estate, Stocks,Entrepreneurship,Money market,And others,

One shock affecting any sector will not mean you immediately going belly up.

What is an asset: Anything that creates value or add money into your pocket.

Liabilities: Anything that takes money away from your pocket.

Controversies;

The home that you live in is classified as an asset in accounting terms but because it does not bring income, it is not an asset! Is it? One can argue that your primary residence saves you rental costs but the big picture is on acquiring more properties and earn rental income and capital gain!

Is your car an asset or a liability? If it is a truck and you can hire it out, if It is registered on ZBIN Ride or registered with a car rental firm, then its surely an asset. But if not then your car is a liability as it siphons money from your pocket through fuel and operating costs. Throw in sentimental issues and you can have a debate that lasts for weeks.

Is your rural home an asset? If you can use it for farming then why not? Of course in accounting, we do not put much value in this land.

The National Problem:

The economy was structured to encourage liability spending by the majority. Many compete in buying cars (check the value of Ex Jap cars imported over the last 2 decades). Our nation spends more money on imports and most of our problems can be traced to this single cancerous disease.

So are we oblivious to these facts? We surely know but if some are selfishly benefiting from imports, who can stop them? Can we add corruption to the list of liabilities? Yes we surely can….

Liability Acquisition Culture:

We celebrate and honour liability acquisition….At church those with the biggest liabilities get the top posts. Even during courtship, those with more liabilities come first. Some job promotions are based on liability acquisition grounds. In politics, those who cannot showcase their liabilities will get the least votes. Every facet of life in Zimbabwe is anchored on liabilities-even at family level, Mr and Mrs Liability maketh all the decisions.

Its now a sea full of liabilities and it is coming at a huge opportunity cost. Our forefathers and mothers had developed a strong educational system anchored on Ubuntu Values and clearly it was biased towards assets acquisition. We were less corrupt too….

Now the question is how do you survive in a liability acquisition culture when you possess an assets acquisition mindset? You need to be strong as you will experience ridicule from every quarter.  Are you willing to build a resilient and sustainable business model? Then hang around the few people with the same mindset ….

It has been a long process in compiling our 4th book on business opportunities. The field of writing about opportunities is not an easy one as there are no peer books or research material to rely upon. You have to straddle uncharted territory and create history.

We are proud to have completed our first RSA book on business opportunities which we are launching next month.

We have attached for your attention our table of contents of the book which becomes our 3rd one for 2020 after a similar book for Zimbabweans and a Digital Marketing one.

A friend inboxed me complaining about her sector becoming over flooded by competitors. She was greatly worried as competitors were taking a large slice of the cheese from the sector she was a pioneer.

Let’s get this correct…in Zimbabwe opportunities generally last for 3 months before most  reverse engineer and figure out your secret recipe. Where are you sourcing products? How are you selling? How is your business model structured?

You can hardly  enjoy a  monopoly especially for new opportunities beyond 3 months….its’ the way it is and you should always factor this in your business strategies.

So what strategies can she employ to keep her head above the water in a pool recently joined by sharks?

In come the ladder steps concept,

Level one: A good friend of mine started baking fancy cakes around 2009 and she became a hit around the capital. She literally had a monopoly of home baked cakes but with time competitors entered the scene for their own share

Level two: Instead of complaining about being copied, she maintained her market in a fast shrinking sector but later on innovated and moved up the ladder to conducting training for ladies interested in baking. She offered well attended training classes for several months before realising that some of her trainees were becoming rivals who were setting up own training institutes. It did not take much time before the market was flooded.

Level three: If other students copy you at school, the easy strategy is to ride solo-study alone, be selfish with knowledge and let your hard work and intelligence reflect in end of year exams. You can report to examiners anyone employing unethical conduct during exams! In business, especially in Zimbabwe, for small businesses-you have no avenue for reporting. Your solution is innovation and moving up the ladder.

She stepped up the ladder and maintained her cake business and training plus added a new portfolio of supplying baking supplies such as flour, recipes and equipment. She developed solid relationships with suppliers in South Africa and for a while enjoyed her time in the sunshine. By now you should have figured out that competitors soon flooded the sector too?

Level four: Yes the competitors followed her footsteps in level  3 prompting her to innovate too and climb another step of starting another industry in Namibia where once in a while she was invited for special training classes and also supplying inputs.

Through innovation and moving up the steps, she increased her profits despite the opening of floodgates. She looked at the bigger picture of the value chain and explored untapped opportunities.

Instead of complaining about dwindling profit margins due to new competitors stampeding to join her sector, she welcomed them with open arms and viewed them as partners.

Now this concept is used to manage competitors but guess what?

You can also employ it when investing in any venture of your choice. Invest in level 1 or enter at level 2 with the intention of moving to level 3 and above. Rear broiler chickens or produce poultry feed?

Carry out online trainings or develop online training infrastructure?

This should be a familiar concept if you read our debut book in 2018. Our books cover opportunities and entrepreneurship concepts.

We welcome your feedback

Kea leboga

For long Zimbos have been known as some of the best employees across the globe. Hardworking, loyal and ethical, we have filled top posts across many industries in the world!

Our solid educational system ensured that we produced top quality graduates for the industry over the years.

However there is one area we have been found wanting and it is entrepreneurship on foreign soil. There are not many or there could be  no listed business entity formed by Zimbabweans based abroad.

What worsens the situation is the individualistic nature of Zimbabweans. Zimbabweans on foreign lands prefer riding it solo and perhaps justifiably so as experiences abound of Zimbos who biteth the hand that feedeth.

There are so many scammers, plenty have been burnt whenever they tried to work together on business or even social ventures.

The worst enemy for a Zimbo on foreign land has therefore become a fellow Zimbabwean!

However we have good news for the forum as we have some members who have decided to challenge the strongly held notion of Zimbabweans not  working in harmony.

They have formally registered in South Africa a company named BIG ( Big Ideas Galore). This is a huge milestone for the country as we witness a second generation of Zimbabweans who venture into serious entrepreneurship projects across Limpopo.

An investment firm, they will operate through a crowdfunding model harnessing resources from like minded Zimbos in South Africa. They mean business-serious business….

Of course it’s a long winding road but through perseverance, they will conquer. Expect more updates from our members as they undertake the entrepreneurship journey which will ultimately result in the first JSE listed Diaspora business.

We wish them the very best.

We feel we have made enough noise about building strong relationships in business on the forum. All of our recent books have been anchored on opportunities plus solid relations.

Regai timboti dedemu nerurimi rwamai;

Business kuwirirana nevamwe zvakanyanya kuti ugadzire  uye kuchengetedza upfumi.

Wirirano –wirirano-wirirano-wirirano!

Business mubatira pamwe chuma chemuzukuru,

Business mukomberanwa,

Business harisi zano ndoga-unosiya jira mumasese!

We have done enough justice about client’s service. Who still remembers Customer Experience? Who has applied what we covered?

Of course recently we had the controversial topic of pricing….that will always be controversial but we believe you picked 1 or 2 tricks.

This evening we look at another critical stakeholder you need to be in very good books with;-your suppliers.

How do you develop strong relationships with your suppliers?

1. Honouring promises. If you get goods on credit and are supposed to pay by x date, then do so without being reminded
2. Being consistent…develop a strong credit record
3. Constant communication and resolving issues before they become big
4. Through review of your financial statements ( purchases and creditors)
5. Ethical conduct

What are the advantages of solid relationships with suppliers?

• Credit facilities- we can call it credit capital. Ability to sell goods and paying later
• Discounts-regular and loyal clients are more likely to get discounts than others
• New offers-Suppliers are likely to select regular and loyal clients first for new products or initiatives

There are tonnes of other benefits and you can add. In this hyperinflationary period-constant communication with suppliers is likely to keep you informed of price hikes or anticipated changes in the supply chain. This can be to your advantage if you get the information earlier than others.

How good are you with relationships? Are you aware of the benefits of acing your soft skills? Do you ever review your relationship skills with all stakehodlders? Do you have a solid plan to improve your skills? When last did you attend training or read books on soft skills?

Do not just read this article but pause, reflect and then take corrective action!

Business=vanhu, vanhu=business (provided you ace and practice advanced soft skills)

When it comes to future opportunities, for Zimbabweans the first name that comes to mind is the Billionaire Dr Strive Masiyiwa. He is the only officially recognised Zimbo although there could be more underground billionaires.

If we are to go with official records, what is it that enabled Masiyiwa to be on top of the totem pole?

1. He embraced digital opportunities
2. He was fortunate to be in the engineering field and appreciating engineering trends
3. He knew the cascading of digital technology-developed world first and Africa last
4. He knew technology adoption in Africa is slow as the continent is a laggard
5. He was globally minded and saw opportunities beyond Zimbabwe

Latest stats do show that Mark Zuckerberg now has a worth of US$85 billion making the 36 year old the fourth richest person on earth-up from number 7. His net worth has been spurred by the lockdown which catapulted the use of social media.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is the second largest gainer with his Amazon stock up 29% since Marc 23 with a net worth of US$146,9 billion.

We do not need to dig deeper, the trend is crystal clear….the future is digital. Those who are strategically placing themselves with tech opportunities will advance at the expense of those still stuck in the old business models.

The next billionaire to join Strive Masiyiwa in the billionaire’s club is obviously a tech-savvy person. It is unfortunate that The Fourth Industrialisation is not a buzz word in Zimbabwe. This shows that once more, Zimbabweans will be the last to grab the 4IR Opportunities like they did with 3IR Opportunities. South African company executives had been making a beeline to India before the lockdown. Companies there appreciated its importance and the benefits to accrue from it but our country’s top executives remain glued in the past.

Tech Opportunities Strategic Positioning

1. Appreciate latest trends across the globe
2. In Africa the first countries chosen for tech opportunities are usually South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt. Rwanda joins the list too.
3. Read Engineering and ICT Journals
4. Follow Strive Masiyiwa on social media
5. Cultivate a keen interest in everything tech

Masiyiwa is good at future envisioning-he sees opportunities 25 years away! How far do you think about the future? Do you have the patience to discuss about this with others? How many tv shows, newspaper articles or radio shows talk about the future 10-20 years from now?

The good news is we will be creating a Whatsapp group with a focus to future tech opportunities. Do watch out for details.

At long last, the second biggest informal sector in the world is reopening!

This is good news although there is a catch….formalise your operations! Have you registered yet? Are you in compliance of local laws and regulations?

The costs of non compliance

• Running battles with the police
• Lost business when you engage on a temple run with authorities
• The opportunity cost of fines
• Little growth and being overtaken by those registered

So formal registration should be on top of your agenda and we will be promoting members involved in company registrations such as Kudzi Mafuta, Maxine and more…

Renting Premises or Online Businesses

You have to seriously consider whether to operate in the CBD or maximise on Online Businesses.

Bricks and Mortar Buildings: This is what has always worked in the past-proven business model. Most customers are used to experiences of seeing the goods they want to buy, who is selling them and the experience of seeing others buying too.

The drawback is getting into town is going to be a hustle for business owners and clients too. You should have witnessed it by now-long queues of passengers waiting for ZUPCO buses and kombis. The long winding queues of vehicles at most fuel stations should be a reminder that travelling in the current environment is a huge challenge. For big cities, transport is going to be a big headache but small cities where many can walk into town; they may not be adversely affected.

Online Businesses: Numbers do not lie, latest figures of internet activity shows an upsurge in online activity across the globe. Even on our forums, we added 10,000 members during the first 30days of the lockdown-a number we used to get in 12 months. Having no presence on online platforms is a literally a cardinal sin. The nation has moved online and being absent means a large chunk of lost business.

You will benefit from the transport inconveniences if you have an online business located in your suburb specific area. Take for example online businesses in Chitungwiza. Clients will have to calculate the transport inconveniences of travelling to the CBD versus buying local.

We compiled as easy to read book on Digital Marketing which we feel should be on the book shelf of every entrepreneur. The E-copy is available for US$1 or RTGS Equivalent of 60 Bond.

Mixture: I would not advise small businesses to totally abandon business premises and fully go online. You may still have clients who prefer buying from your premises-do not lose them!

Carry out an analysis of who they are, capture them and encourage them to join your online business platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp and Telegram. If you do not have a website, the time to invest in one is now!

In your financial statements, record brick and mortar revenues versus online revenues. Calculate profits too for each funnel. Use this evidence for decision making on whether to maintain business premises or close.

If online business is more profitable, then consider downscaling physical premises but you may still need small space for goods collection by clients.

We wish you all the best and do not forget to join our Social Media platforms especially Suburb Specific Whatsapp groups.

Our forum publishes weekly newsletters tokeep our members clued up of latest developments. The newsletters come in pdf format or write up formats for distribution across all of our forums.

Kindly find the latest edition for your reading pleasure.

Most of our top priorities for the first half of the year have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic but we managed to achieve a few such as;

1. Book Publications: We managed to publish our eagerly awaited 2020 Business Opportunities for Zimbabweans and launched it at Capitalk Gardens in Harare. We also got an opportunity to showcase the book on the national TV. The South Africa Business Opportunities Book also came with the Digital Marketing Book being the third one.
2. ZBIN TV: We launched our small Youtube TV Network and managed to feature a couple of our members.
3. Monthly meetings: We started holding monthly meetings with 2 in Harare and a similar number in South Africa. Well attended meetings attracting a total of 400 members in Harare and 26 in South Africa.
4. Partnerships: We partnered with Capitalk Radio for the use of their premises for our meetings and feature of our members on radio.
5. ZBIN RIDE: We launched the ZBIN Ride which helps our members to share rides and send parcels at preferable rates
6. Digital Marketing Training:We conducted a Digital Marketing Training for 700 members during the Covid-19 lockdown

Top Priorities for the next 6 months

1. Funding for members: We have been approached by a leading bank interested in funding  our members involved in agricultural activities and we are currently compiling a list
2. Crowdfunding Initiatives: We will ramp up crowdfunding initiatives targeting at least 5 successful projects
3. Women’s Forum: We were supposed to launch a women’s forum in April 2020 but due to Covid-19, we will push it to the later part of the year
4. Forum Tours: We will be conducting at least 2 tours during the last quarter of the year with provisional destinations being Nyanga or Mtoko
5. Telegram Account: As of 1 June 2020, our Zimbabwe forum has 70,000 members and our RSA forum 90,000. Our forum views per month up to 700,000. We have created a Telegram account with a target of 20,000 members by end of year
6. Monthly Meetings: We created suburb specific groups for Bulawayo, Chinhoyi, Bindura, Marondera, Norton, Chitungwiza, Beitbridge, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa and various Harare groups. The objective is to have these areas conducting monthly meetings and fairs after the lockdown with a target of a total of 10,000 of our members attending by end of the year
7. More Virtual Classes: We will be conducting more online trainings and meetings online through platforms such as Zoom