Diaspora Matters

Harare’s housing backlog stands at 500.000 with more people being added to the list every month. Options for town planners to solve the housing problem includes expansion of the city and also trying out other areas such as Norton, Ruwa, Chitungwiza, Nyabira and the proposed new city centre in Mt Hampden. What is the missing link in the options for town planners? The option is Melfort which is situated 34 kilometers from the city centre. Melfort is closer to Harare than Norton and the area has massive potential. The completion of the dualisation of the Mutare Road up to the tollgate means travelling to Melfort is now faster. A 10 minute drive from the area and you will already be in Ruwa. Full dualisation up to Melfort expected before year end as construction is underway. The proximity to the Harare-Mutare Railway line means that in future passenger trains will help in the transportation of goods and passengers.

Already some have acquired a lot of land in the area especially Hararians as land is still cheaper when compared to the city. So great investment opportunities for diasporans to buy large tracts of land and develop housing units for sale. Develop garden flats, build shopping malls and related infrastructure. For those interested in tourism, they can be inspired by many conference centres near the place and if agriculture is your area of interest then get large tracts of land for market gardening.

So get organised think big investment and get yourself a piece of Melfort which is likely to surpass Norton in the coming few years. Make inquiries with the Goromonzi Rura District Council and find out availability and costs of land there. With the city afflicted by all sorts of inconveniences such as traffic congestion, pollution and general decay-most people are going to rush for new areas which are close to the city. We believe Mefort offers the best real estate opportunity than any other area close to Harare.

Wish you the best.

Meanwhile our Business Opportunities for Zimbabweans 2018 Edition is still available for sale and is now costing $10 a copy, you will also get a copy of our 2019 Edition which is coming out at the end of the month. Get in touch with our Forum Coordinator on +263774081808.

For most people in Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana and Zimbabwe when it comes to buying cars, Durban is one of the cheapest options. There is a lot of variety of Ex Japanese cars for sale and their prices  are cheaper when compared to others. For Zimbabweans they have the option of Musina car dealers but Durban still remains a better option.

Mode of Payment

Most people interested in purchasing second hand cars travel with cash which is usually in USD and this cash unfortunately attracts a lot of robbers based in the coastal city and therefore when travelling to Durban, you are always a target especially when you travel from car sale to car sale looking at various car models.

Latest stories from Durban

This is just one of the many stories shared by our members on our group. A man from Zimbabwe traveled to Durban with $40.000 cash  intending to purchase 2 minibuses in Durban. After arriving safely in the coastal city, he concluded a vehicle purchase deal with a reputable car dealer and then left the city having paid all monies.

Trouble however started for him when he reached Beitbridge waiting for his car but he was told that the vehicle carrier had been involved in an accident. He was advised to come back to Durban and claim his refund-this he did and upon getting his refund, a few metres from the premises of the car dealer…he was robbed by 2 gun wielding robbers!

In other cases people encounter excuses from car dealers, told to come back and collect their monies and like the case above-robbed of their cash refund by robbers with guns.

So be careful when buying second hand Ex Jap Cars in South Africa. Whenever you are asked to come and collect a refund in cash, rather ask them to do a wire transfer or get another car as you are most likely going to fall prey to robbers in a fraudulent scheme involving car dealers and robbers. Hundreds of people are being duped this way per month-dont fall victim!

Entrepreneurs should always be up to date with business trends. Your ability to know what is shaping the business landscape means you develop a competitive advantage over others who are unaware. Below we share an important report which you need to download and keep a copy for future reference. Most of the information in the report is for the developed world but will be experienced in the next few years on the continent.

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Entrepreneurs should always come up with solutions to problems. At the centre of the election dispute in Zimbabwe was the issue of evidence of alleged electoral malpractices. So how can this be solved by entrepreneurs? We go the technology route, we go the Big Data way. Political parties in future elections are urged to adopt technological systems that allow them to capture election results and publish them in real time. An opportunity is presented to entrepreneurs to develop mobile apps that are used by all poll agents to upload election results as soon as vote counting is complete.

We look forward to young entrepreneurs developing mobile apps and selling it to various political parties across the world. This will help solve unnecessary electoral processes delays and also save money. No more fulcrums, V11 or V23 form disputes in future elections so go for it ZBIN Members…great opportunity on your hands.

The future is business

Now that elections are past us, we await the setting up of a competent cabinet team that is business focused. Serious policy makers who will transform Zimbabwe so that it can be a middle income country by 2030. Policy makers who will take advantage of one of the best human capitals on the continent. Our country has great potential-a lot of natural resources, great weather, friendly and hard working people. We need to tap into the skills that we have with some dotted across the globe.

Zimbos are leading great institutions across the globe and we need to find innovative ways to tap into their wealth of knowledge and skills. Diasporans do not necessarily need to leave their bases but can contribute if we create room for them. For instance the Ministry of Finance can have a board of experts from across the world who contribute to the development of the country through virtual participation in boards. The Ministry of SMEs can tap into the expertise of Zimbabweans working for big institutions such as UN, World Bank, IMF, Econet, BBC and Vodacom.

The current approach of having ministers working alone means they are losing out of world class experience which is freely available. Zimbabweans across the globe will not ask for stipends or travel allowances. They will participate out of patriotism, the need to develop their country. Ministries therefore need to identify world class skills they need and then invite Zimbos from across the globe to participate in advisory councils. We recommend every ministry to have an advisory council made up of some of the best brains from the country. A ministers role is to facilitate and harness expertise from these learned sons and daughters of the soil.

The SME Ministry 

During inauguration, the president mentioned strengthening of the SME framework. We are looking forward to a robust framework that will help transform the economy by bringing local investor friendly policies and programs. This framework should come after wide consultations with all stakeholders. Do not come with half baked frameworks drafted by a few people who may not have the necessary expertise and exposure. The SME sector has been the bedrock of the economy accounting for 60% of the Gross Domestic Product. With more than 5.6 million people employed, the sector is the second highest in the world so lets have the second best SME framework in the world. In future other countries should come to Zimbabwe for case studies!

The disbandment of the Ministry of SMEs did not yield the results desired because it meant putting more focus on international investment and big corporates. The focus on big corporates was good but should not have been at the expense of the largest sector in the country and the world. We are therefore looking forward to its revival and a strong team coming up to steer the sector to greater heights. The SME Ministry needs to work hand in glove with international NGOs working in the country which have been doing great work. Do learn from them about their approaches in the development of a world class SME framework.

Personal Investment Decisions

According to our opportunities identification toolkit, a new government means new opportunities! Follow government policies, check out how these policies are implemented and follow the money. The government sets the agenda for business opportunities and you should have your own business plan that monitors developments in the economy and government policies.

With our forum sharing a record number of free business posts, what have you identified? Do not just read the posts but develop a business plan. It does not need to be detailed but a one page business plan articulating what you would like to do is good for starters. Worried about capital? Capital should not be a stumbling block to the development of your business plan as there are various options such as partnerships, crowdfunding and government funds. Have your plan of your vision and finish last with capital options. We are getting a lot of inquiries from diasporans and foreigners interested in partnerships. We however cannot refer them to people with just ideas, you need solid plans and its better if you have small successful projects that need to be scaled up.

We have also published a book on Business Opportunities, do you have a copy yet? The book details opportunities in Agriculture, Services sector, Mining, Women and Youths. We have not just listed opportunities but went the extra length of detailing them and showing others who are successful. Interested in buying from China? There is a step by step process. Interested in doing business in Malawi? There is a brilliant write up. Interested in setting up a chicken layers project? Our Agriculture section shows you a great success story. The book contains skills that you need to invest and many more.

We have just completed the SA Business Opportunities and we are confident that its the best entrepreneurship book on the continent. Although the target market is South Africa, the book contains an enormous collection of stories and resources that will inspire everyone across the globe. The book is coming free of charge to those who got the Zimbabwe Book.

So do not be left out, join our platforms such as Whatsapp which provide helpful information and they cover Poultry, Mining, Construction, Transport, Online Forex Trading, Bitcoin, Education, Tapestry, Regional Opportunities and more. We have more than 8.000 members on the group. To join send an app to +263774081808, +263776196313 and +263772215695. We have full time Administrators who ensure that our groups are clean and stick to business discussions. Be inspired and join others providing mentorship support and resources.

Our Facebook platforms have the Zim Business Ideas and Network group with close to 38.000 members with the focus being business discussions and sharing of ideas and it is the leading forum for business networking. Our South Africa Business Ideas and Network has 10.000 members with 100 new members being added everyday.

So do not be left out, find out how other entrepreneurs are doing it…the failures and successes which is crucial on your business journey. Avoid costly mistakes and know the direction opportunities are flowing.

We wish you well on your business opportunities journey.

The interest in farming by youths in South Africa is at an all time high. This is encouraging as some explore farming as an alternative to seeking formal jobs. A lot of farming activity is already underway especially in provinces such as Limpopo, KZN and Mpumalanga. The question on the minds of most people interested in getting land is ‘How do you get land?’ Below we feature some answers from our members on land access.

Question: How do I get land access to state land? 

Siya Try the Department of Land Reform.

Tinoda You must have a proper business plan.

Mpho Have a business plan and visit the land departments, but expect slow progress due to corruption.

Mthembeni Have you identified the land you would like to acquire for farming?

Mthingeni Identify the farm which is for sale. Go to the Department of Land Reform. The department will assist. If you have many cattle you stand a good chance and might contribute close to nothing.

Terence The current process is that land is advertised by DRDLR through the local newspapers and all those that qualify need to apply. A committee called DBSC will shortlist then interviews are conducted. The successful candidate will then be awarded the rights to utilise the land in question.

Piet  Visit district office of Dpartment of Rural Development and Land Reform get more direct information . The administrator of District Land reform committee (DLRC) can assist you. They will explain about sub commitee known as Beneficiary selection committee terms of reference.

Terence Just as Bhekathina says…. Go to your district office and at that office ask about the process on leasing of land and if their DLRC (District Land Reform Committee) chaired by farmers is operational. This committee is in charge of land allocation issues.

Thabo Meantime whilst waiting for land from DLRC, go to local chiefs and get a 1 ha or 2ha piece of land and start your operations there.

Thuso  Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. But you gonna wait for a very long time. Ask me. I’m still waiting after 6 years

Lebo  You need serious connections to own a piece of land and if you don’t have connections just be ready for the long haul. There is a long list of people who never farmed before and those who are serious about farming awaiting just to face the panel or the board that decide whether you qualify or not. Iam sorry about the weak system where the monied are given first preference over those who are more capable.

We bring you our August 2018 newsletter for your viewing pleasure. The newsletter targets our subscribers and followers in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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Our forum has not been active of late and we would like to apologize to our regular followers. We have been busy putting together probably Africa’s best entrepreneurship book. Working closely with more than 1000 entrepreneurs-It is an early Xmas gift for every entrepreneur in South Africa.

Back to Zimbabwe, we have held peaceful elections and thought all was in order, unfortunately some hiccups came along the way. We however  remain hopeful that our political leaders will find common ground and work for the betterment of the country. We need to uplift our country in terms of economic, social and political development. We are already behind and need to catch up fast, there is no time to waste.

We remain positive that a solution will be found sooner rather than later.

So assuming there is an all clear signal given by investors and the international community, which areas are Zimbos going to be spending money on?

Here are our top areas

Every new money making project usually lasts up to 6 months before floodgates are opened with competition joining. So what are the areas that are flooded?

1. Transport: Kombis, Buses and Mshikashikas.
2. Cross Borders: Import of goods for resale.
3. Poultry: Rearing broilers and layers.
4. Mining: Small scale chrome and gold mining.
5. Farming: Tobacco farming

One area which most are ignoring is the entertainment sector. The growth in population in all urban areas should have spurred investment into amusement parks targeting kids amusement but what is the current status? An unbelievable gap which the diaspora community can fill in most urban areas especially in Harare, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Gweru and Bulawayo. For prices on the cost of equipment, you can visit the website link below:

https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/amusement-park-equipment.html

Space Walk

Flight Simulator

Our July 2018 newsletter is out and you can download your copy on this site. The newsletter is targeted at small business owners in Southern Africa and is distributed to more than 10.000 subscribers.

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One farming area that is less populated is mushroom farming especially oyster mushroom. The demand for mushroom is at an all time high with most retail shops running out of the agricultural produce. Interested in giving it a try? Then research more about it especially how to grow it and accessing markets.

Below we feature  an article from one of Zimbabwe’s leading agriculture experts, Mr Philemon Buruzi.

Growing Oyster Mushrooms
Despite the fact that oyster mushrooms are relatively new on the Zimbabwean food market, they are fast becoming a favourite of many customers countrywide. Oyster mushroom cultivation is the simplest and least cost when compared to other types of mushrooms. This is so because oyster requires no special inputs but rather can be grown using locally available materials and even makes use of agricultural waste. The only requirement that a prospective mushroom grower needs to outsource apart from the mushroom spawn is know how and that is what I endeavour to provide by putting together this article.

Definitions

Terms used in mushroom growing which might be new to the uninitiated are given below;

Spawn – this is the mushroom ‘seeds’,

Spawning – refers to the process of ‘planting’ the mushroom,

Substrate – is the agricultural waste on which the mushroom grows e.g wheat straw,

Fruiting – formation of the mushrooms under specific house conditions.

Required Facilities and Equipment

Fruiting house, spawning house, spawn, thermometer, hygrometer, water sprayer, buckets, plastic bags, sterilising drum, string

Spawn and Substrates

Spawn is purchased from spawn laboratories. Substrates can be any of the following materials-sawdust from deciduous trees, banana leaves, cotton waste, milled maize cobs, chopped rice or wheat straw, chopped maize stalks. Ensure that the substrate has high nutrient content, good water-holding capacity and is well aerated. To control acidity, add 2% lime by weight and 20% wheat bran to improve quality.

Spawning Room

After spawning, substrate bags are kept in this room for development of the mycelium. This room should provide dark conditions and a temperature of around 240C. Alternative the same mushroom house can be used provided it can be made dark as required during incubation.

Fruiting House

This is the room in which the mushroom grows. The size of this room depends on the scale that the grower wants to operate at. The walls of the room can be made of any material be it bricks, wood, thatch or even pole and dagga. It is recommended to line the walls with plastic sheeting in order to relative manage humidity better. Ventilation should be adequate, hence air vents or windows need be in place. The room should have enough light as and when needed. Wooden shelves or racks should be fitted to handle spawned substrate bags. The house should provide for temperature maintenance between 180C-250 C and humidity of 80-90%.

How to do it

Below is a four stage process of growing oyster mushroom presented in a step by step format;

Step One – Substrate preparation

Chopped or shredded substrate is soaked in water overnight. After 24 hours excess water is drained off and lime is added. Transfer the mixture into the sterilising drum and subsequently filled with hot water. The drum is allowed to boil for 60 minutes before transferring the substrate onto a plastic sheet to cool off to between 38-400C.

Step Two- Spawning

Pack the substrate into transparent plastic bags adding the spawn even layer upon layer. Care should be taken not to pack the substrate too tightly or too loosely. Also ensure that this stage takes place under hygienic conditions as diseases tend to enter at this phase. Tie the open end of the plastic bag immediately after filling.

Step Three- Incubation

Place the spawned bags in dark room at 240C or simply cover the bags with black plastic sheets. Incubation lasts between 14-40 days and full colonisation is evidenced by white mycelium covering the whole bag.

Step Four- Fruiting

Initiate the formation of the mushroom bodies by exposing the bags to light. Once light hits the bags fruiting commences. After 24 hrs make long cuts at the top and bottom of the bags. Mushrooms will start to form in 4 days. Temperature should be maintained between 20-280C whilst humidity is between 80-95%.

Step Five-Harvesting

Mushroom are ready to be plucked 4 days after the emergence of the fruiting body. handle by the stalk twist gently and pull out. Harvesting is best done in the cooler hours of the day. Immediately refrigerate without freezing to preserve freshness. Make more long cuts around the centre of the bag for more mushrooms to emerge. Continue to harvest till the substrate turns colourless and of a soft feel. In general terms 10kg of substrate should give you a yield of between 10kg-20kg of mushrooms.

For all questions and comments: philemonburuzi@gmail.com.