Diaspora Matters

Zimbabwe is home to the second biggest per capita informal sectors in the world according to UNDP and IMF. Over 60% of the population rely on the informal economy for survival. Therefore scholars of economics cannot avoid looking at Zimbabwe when analysing the shadow economy.

The major challenges facing small businesses include 1) Access to Markets 2) Access to Capital 3) Access to mentorship 4) Challenging Economic Environment, and 5) Other factors.

Given that this is an economy that deserves special place in the world. How has been the support to small businesses over the past years? A lot of efforts by the government, corporate sector and development partners with considerable amounts and resources poured. However given the extent of the demand—supply factors have just been a drop in the ocean.

In targeted rural communities, development partners have done commendable work in supporting livelihoods, provision of inputs (capital), trainings and market linkages. In some areas water availability has been enhanced with irrigation systems developed or resuscitated. The Government has also done exceptionally well in supporting key economic sectors such as Agriculture and Mining benefiting small holder farmers and miners.

The biggest challenge in all the interventions are urban areas.

It is easy to mobilise rural folks through use of traditional leaders and structures as communities are closely linked. However in urban set ups—this is a serious challenge.

Proposed solutions include tech hub interventions—however their reach is limited to a few hundreds or thousands per year. It is therefore difficult to derive meaningful data backed conclusions on effectiveness of such interventions. Entrepreneurs in Epworth, Makokoba, Sakubva and Mucheke may struggle to name any hub they are aware of.

Tech hubs therefore need expansion beyond the tiny few that are available as they are technically a drop in the ocean.

In our view, no one in Zimbabwe can effectively assist entrepreneurs given the scale of the need especially in urban areas where little support is reaching them. There is need for all stakeholders to form a team and these could include The Government, The Corporate Sector, Financial Institutions, The Civic Society, Universities and colleges, Urban and Rural Councils, Churches, Public Media, Telecommunication Companies and community leaders.

Zimbabwe needs a solid infrastructure for supporting small businesses and unlock value. This is the greatest missing link but innovations could be introduced to harness the existing digital infrastructure of websites and social media platforms. In Japan they have a digital ecosystem for supporting entrepreneurs. It is called Mirasapo which essentially mean supporting the future needs of entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs linked to the Mirasapo have access to capital, markets, mentorship and other resources.

And on ZBIN we adopted the model that links our website to Facebook and Whatsapp Forums. Our members benefit from access to opportunities information, access to markets and access to peer to peer mentorship. This has seen us link up 100,000 Active Members which should be one of the highest in the world for countries with high informal sectors.

We haven’t fully reached our potential but believe we are in the right direction to connect over a million entrepreneurs over the next 5 years.

Our model as well as the Japanese Mirasapo model need tweaking and create a fully home grown infrastructure that support entrepreneurs. Classroom entrepreneurship teaching has been overtaken by events as only a few are reached.

We have now entered the last leg of the year with less than 7 weeks till 2023 comes to an end. Crime is expected to increase in line with increased spending and traffic around the country. Criminals usually increase their pace during this period and this week we witnessed an action packed movie style robbery in Southerton, Harare. A businessman lost a substantial amount of money but thanks to a dash board (dashcam) camera which recorded the robbery, the police swiftly moved in and arrested the culprits in hours!

Here are a list of areas our members are supposed to take great caution

Vehicle Purchases: A lot of vehicle purchase transactions do take place during the festive season. Criminals hang around garages ready to pounce. Move from one garage to the next making inquiries and you would have broadcasted to the public that you have cash.

Vehicle Sales: In a cash economy where most of it is kept at home–every vehicle sale is resulting in the cash being kept at home. And vehicle registration books in most cases provides evidence of the exact location where the cash is to be kept. Assess the costs of bank charges against the total loss of the funds including injury to you and family members. Last year many lost funds this way with sometimes hijacking taking place before the seller reaches home.

Residential Stands Transactions: Similar to the vehicle transactions noted above-avoid carrying huge amounts of cash to purchase stands or even sales. Avoid travelling long distances and be wary of sudden changes in venues for transactions. You are safer dealing with registered institutions including lawyers.

Bank Deposits and Withdrawals: Do not be predictable on your movements to banks-avoid predictable patterns that makes tracking you easier for criminals. The Southerton robbery could have been avoided had the businessman used Cash In Transit vehicle services.

Home Transactions: Avoid conducting transactions at home by inviting strangers to buy or selling to them. It makes it easy to identify targets by criminals. Rather, conduct transactions away from your home.

Advertising on social media could also send a signal that someone has cash or will soon have it. Therefor be in trusted forums and also think twice before posting. Fake Proof of Payments (POPs) expected to increase too and therefore verify, verify transactions before releasing goods. Be wary of big orders before your closing period.

We expect sophistication from criminals including targeting back to school transactions. Homes should not be left alone during the festive season and avoid night travelling.

The total export receipts for Rwanda in 2021 was US$2.1 billion and increased to US$2.9 billion in 2022. The interesting insight is in 2021, Rwandas exports equalled the Zimbabwe’s diaspora receipts for the year ended 2022! And in 2023 Zimbabwe received close to a billion dollars in the first 6 months. The expectation is to meet the US$2 billion mark by the end of 2023.

Therefore diaspora remittances do play a significant economic role in the country helping to provide liquidity and spur economic development. But as a nation do we have a solid diaspora engagement policy? Is it visible enough? What have been our key achievements over the past decades to engage and incentivise our foreign citizens to actively participate in business back home?

On this forum we do have tonnes of posts advocating for diaspora engagement but we eventually got tired of advocating for this. It is better to focus on what is controllable and that is individual businesses tapping into diaspora remittances value chain.

Judging from forum sentiments, the economy has been biting hard especially in September and October resulting in small businesses strategizing on operations with some relocating to cheaper rental premises-some in staff rationalization and other cost cutting measures. In Harare where office space had become difficult to find in recent years-in recent months the vacancy rates have shot up.

With Zimbabwe experiencing disposable income drought, businesses encouraged to diversify their risks through seriously considering how they can tap into diaspora remittances. Official estimates of the number of Zimbabweans in the diaspora difficult to establish but some put the figure at 5 million.

What are the diaspora interests in Zimbabwe?

Buying decisions: They are playing a crucial role in what products or services need to be procured such as meeting basic needs. Reaching out to the diaspora helps them make decisions and its easy for local companies to reach out to Zimbabweans in the SADC region. Digital marketing comes to the rescue.

Real Estate: One of the top needs of the diasporan community-property acquisitions or constructing own homes. From our forum, we have some who have mastered diaspora engagement in meeting their needs. If you are into the construction value chain-ignore diaspora at your own peril.

Entrepreneurship Projects: There is an increasing interest by the diaspora community in undertaking entrepreneurial projects back home. This is done as a safeguard especially due to insecurities around the ZEP permits for Zimbabweans in South Africa. Some are also supporting relatives back home involved in entrepreneurial projects.

Schooling: Some diasporas especially those around the region such as Mozambique and South Africa are opting for Zimbabwean education for their children. In the process they have direct involvement and interest in choosing schools for their children. Schools that reach out to the diaspora community therefore enjoy a competitive advantage over those that do not.

Funeral and Medical Insurance: Do we have local insurance companies reaching out to the diaspora as decision makers? Due to local laws, provision of insurance cover to the diaspora could be a challenge-but are they advertising their services to the diaspora community in Cape Town so that they could insure their relatives back home?

There is more that local companies need to do as a huge percentage of forex circulating in the economy can be traced back to the diaspora. Over the next 5 years the nation is expecting more than US$10 billion and more could come if incentives are put in place. Perhaps time for strategy rethink for local companies and be in the direct path of diaspora remittances.

I have read several times that no single entity dominates 2 Industrial Revolutions. And I have been trying to find out why without much success as I did not experience in real time the changes at a single entity. However finally over a week, I have been fortunate to observe how disruption happens and how the corporate sector responds.

So Whatsapp Channels introduced a week ago in Zimbabwe and Whatsapp has an estimated population of +6 million Zimbabweans and numbers should be higher when the diaspora population is factored in. Every serious business needs a strong presence on Whatsapp but its not an easy exercise—just a Whatsapp Number is good for now and Chatboxes for client experience. Much easier to be on Facebook, X(Formerly Twitter) and a couple of others.

Whatsapp Channels likely to be the anchor of the 4^th Industrialization E-Commerce Opportunities as it connects communities with business. Technically a new Search Engine under development and this will revolutionarize the way future business is conducted. We are expecting video streaming features creating a Youtube replica. Chat boxes to be introduced, Sponsored Adverts and Payment Platforms.

Do not rule out the eventual merging of Facebook and Whatsapp in the not too distant future. A lot of features to be borrowed from The  Chinese WeChat mobile app.

Crunch Time

A popular artist with nearly a million followers on Facebook has created a Whatsapp Channel and has had to start from zero followers and rising to 600 followers in a week. Starting from zero followers not easy when elsewhere you have millions of followers. Fortunately for him, his team had been helping to mobilise followers for him.

A fast rising Man of God with nearly half million followers on Facebook has created a Whatsapp Channel and currently has 15 followers. From 500,000 to 15? Psychologically this has serious impact as this could dent his brand.

How about a big well established Financial Institution? What sort of image will they potray when they start from 10 followers on Whatsapp Channel? No serious management will allow such an initiative as this will reflect badly on their performance. CBZ cannot start from 10 followers and grow over time. The start is definitely embarrassing and ego issues will play a part.

Therefore Whatsapp Channels discussions likely to be swept under the carpet. After all this has no direct relationship with current performance results.

Dear Zbinite, now you have the answer on why disruption often take behemoths by surprise! It’s not surprise as such as many internal stakeholders would have seen it—but personal reasons such as ego come into play. For small businesses—there are no ego issues—not afraid to start from the bottom and implementation speedily done. For big corporates, new innovations have to go through a long red tape and at each stage—reviews silently carrying ego risks. ‘What will stakeholders say?’ ‘We are too big to start from the bottom’

Our advice to small businesses is—move with speed on Whatsapp Channels and dominate the space. Join our subscribed forum where we are vigorously pushing for Whatsapp Channels adoption. Be first time adopters and enjoy the benefits. The corporate sector will eventually come when it becomes fashionable to do so and they will pour huge resources to grab market share. However some will fall by the wayside with new small businesses emerging and replacing them.

To strategic planning teams—this is a good case study on AI Competitive Advantage. Tech innovations, Ego Resistance and Disruptions. AI will be considered Suitable, Feasible but in the early days—Not Acceptable according to the SAF Matrix.

Whatsapp Channels were rolled out Zimbabwe on the 20th of October 2023 with Zimbabwe joining the rest of the world in connectivity. A revolutionary development from Meta which is essentially creating a new search engine on Whatsapp as Channels. It could take several months before millions of Zimbabweans warm up to the new initiative but our forum with a 100,000 active membership has latched on to the innovation with hundreds signing up.

We have been leveraging on solid relationships and networking to get everyone onboard and the good news is we have registered considerable progress. And what is more? We have gone the extra mile of creating a Whatsapp Channels Directory. Have other countries moved as fast? Are there business forums across the world that now have such kind of a directory? We would like to think we could possibly be the first country to create such a directory.

The intention is brand visibility for our members and unlock access to market opportunities. Credit goes to our Tech Administrator for sterling efforts in developing the directory through a vigorous 2 day campaign encouraging members to register and follow each other.

ZBIN To The World!

Thanks to our Tech Admin Darlington Letala, who updated us on the launch of Whatsapp Channels in Zimbabwe! Sometime back we once discussed about this on the forum and some of you can relate.

Typical of most tech innovations—there will be early adopters, late followers and outright laggards. For competitive advantage we have opted for early adopters and are on a vigorous campaign to get our Subscribed Members to create Channels and also follow each other.

The intention is by next year each and every subscribed member has at least 500 followers. Following the next person is almost mandatory.

But what are the benefits of Whatsapp Channels? Zvinopei?

Brand Visibility: How many people view videos on Youtube with 3 views? This is why some go to the extent of buying views. Whatsapp Channels to rise in prominence over the coming years and the benchmark will be number of followers. Of course not all as the content posted will add value and attract more followers.

• Market Place: In the not so distant future, you will be able to search for books for sale, cars for sale, vacancies…practically anything. Those with more followers will stand out. The Algorithms will propel those with high number of followers to the top. With more than 4 billion Whatsapp users across the globe and an estimated 6 million Whatsapp users in Zimbabwe. And in Zimbabwe Whatsapp being the preferred social media app….opportunities abound for early adopters.
• Your Shop & Website: First we had Whatsapp Business Accounts coming with catalogue feature facilities enabling clients to view your products. The problem was these accounts were not searcheable—therefore Whatsapp Channels essentially connects individual Business Accounts and making them searcheable across the globe. You can now search BBC, CNN and follow on Whatsapp—BIG ADVANTAGE! Whatsapp has replicated Facebook ….although not fully yet but we can see the direction.
• Small Businesses Advantage:  When Whatsapp was introduced, many corporate viewed them as social groups that add little value. Small businesses joined and benefited when Business Groups and Business Accounts were opened. Companies cannot participate in Whatsapp discussions—they cannot laugh, share jokes or be human….a Competitive Advantage for small businesses where the owners are intertwined with their businesses.

This is a disruption that is going to confuse many corporate boards as its going to be tough to ask for followers or even being followed unless they do vigorous promotions and this comes at a cost. The corporate sector likely to come as laggards and will have to rely on sponsored chatboxes. As of today—most corporates at zero followers on Whatsapp Channels—and small businesses urged to move with speed!

• Future Payment Platforms: The evolution of Whatsapp shows Individual accounts opened, Groups opened, Business accounts opened, Communities opened, Channels opened—and surely predicting the future should be easy. Expect payment platforms to be integrated into Whatsapp. Visa cards on Whatsapp? Western Union, Mukuru and Sendittoo on Whatsapp? RTGs system on Whatsapp? Of course local payment systems could take more time just like Starlink. But by as early as 2025, we could see payment systems incorporated.

As ZBIN we are super excited—This is Manna from Heaven for small businesses and we know there are few spaces where this is being discussed. Some could even go for years oblivious to the recent tech advancement.

And being a closely networked forum of an active 100k members now paying dividends as we are encouraging our 20,000 Whatsapp communities to speedily embrace Whatsapp Channels and following each other too.

The starting point is our Subscribed Forum and we are set to have the biggest community signed up with a lot of activity already underway.

How did Mereki rise to be an open air entertainment space of choice in Harare? Well back in the last 80s, the late former chairman of Dynamos, Mr Nhekairo used to host after match parties for Dembare supporters at the Warren Park D joint. Scores of fans warmed up the place helping to popularize it in the process. With time no after matches were held but the ground work had been completed as fans continued to trek to the place thereby boosting the brand. Later on the place became open to non soccer fans and as they say, the rest is history!

Many open air venues have been opened around the capital city but Mereki remains the first and last word when it comes to open air entertainment. The same model is captured in our 2020 and 2022 books when we featured how Mr Low launched a pub in Rimuka (2020 Business Opportunities for Zimbabweans Book) and How Tinashe did set up a thriving pub in Mufakose (2022 Business Opportunities for Zimbabweans Book).

Build a community around your brand by constantly engaging and supporting them. There is need for community ownership. Silently set up a business and mind your own business, then clients likely to take longer to switch to you especially when you offer what already exists from current players.

Dear reader,

Welcome to the same Nhekairo Concept being used in the digital space. You should not walk alone in business, rather; be an active participant in the digital community. And one of our leading members is Luwy Kay Kusemwa of LC Shipping and her company set up in 2018 has risen to become the best Runner in Zimbabwe which specializes in China Imports to Zimbabwe services.

Luwy is well networked, and has a big forum made up of clients. She is part and parcel of them and this also includes ZBIN. References become easier to get when you have thousands of clients speaking positively about your brand. Every time inquiries on Buying and Shipping from China crop up, be sure that her crew will bid for her.

Of course to reach her level takes quite a lot of effort and time, but the results are coming. So this is advanced digital marketing where simply operating as a lone ranger wont cut it. Digital Marketing now needs inclusion of digital communities.

The period July to October 2023 has literally been a dry period for the business sector as it was characterised by low disposable incomes as a result of a tight monetary policy regime. A lot of electioneering funding valves opened, but funds were not freely flowing to every economic sector. We have recently experienced an upsurge in criminality especially on our social media platforms and would therefore like to sensitize our members on possible risks from now till December 2023.

Bogus ZIMRA Audits: We have received reports of small business owners being phoned by bogus auditors and being asked to pay US$80 for audits. We urge you to contact ZIMRA directly for audits being carried out especially when asked to pay bribes. Most of the auditors are bogus—do not lose money.

Partnerships: Do not enter into new partnerships especially with strangers you would have met on social media. One famous scam on the forum is of a lady called Mai Tawana who misrepresented that she could buy fish from Kariba and sell to hotels such as Holiday Inn. She would produce fake financial reports and hoodwinking investors and one pastor lost more than US$45,000 to her. This is not the time to enter into partnerships with strangers.

Phishing Links: Do not lose valuable personal information through clicking malware links. Some of the links will come as sponsorships, scholarships or prizes. You will lose your accounts to social media including banking details.

Fake Proof Of Payments: Seemingly legit POPs will appear on your phone with scammers getting goods only for you to be shocked when the Money Transfer Agent says the POP is fake. Be wary of the timing as this scam is orchestrated before closing time when one has no time to confirm.

Counterfeit Farming Inputs: Avoid buying farming inputs such as fertilizer and seeds from the streets. Harare now has a massive and thriving industry of fake products manufacturing with a lot of warehouses dotted across Mbare.

Of course the list is obviously long and we will share more information in future.  Avoid the usual suspect—contracts in Victoria Falls—an old scam where victims are asked to send funds for bus fare and after doing so—the contractors witching off phones.

Farmers especially Poultry Farmers—avoid selling from your home as you could attract robbers. And try your level best to avoid congested areas in down town. The dollarization surge to also bring fake currency risks.

Hope you find this useful.

 The external environment impacts your business directly and even on a personal level. Strategic Management Practioners often use the PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal) Model for external environment reviews. They consider changes in an environment and assess risks and opportunities.

We are fortunate to get a list of laws that will dominate the Parliament for the next 5 years and we encourage our members not to be mere passengers but to actively participate in public debates and also following the processes in the promulgation of laws that affect them.

What are the emerging opportunities you see? And what are the risks coming from these laws?

1- The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill;

2- Public Finance Management Amendment Bill;

3- Medical Services Amendment Bill; Insurance Bill

4- Private Voluntary Organisation Bill,

5- Fredrick Clayton Trust Act (to be repealed)

6- Service of Documents Act(to be repealed)

7- Settled Estates Leasing Act(to be repealed)

8- War Marriages Validation Act(to be repealed)

9- Persons with Disabilities Bill

10- Administration of Estates Amendment Bill.

11- The Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, 2023

12- Inheritance and Succession Laws (General Amendment) Bill, 2023,

13- Water Act (to be reviewed)

14- Zimbabwe National Water Authority Act (to be reviewed)

15- Plant Breeders Act(to be reviewed)

16- Climate Change Bill

17- The Parks and Wildlife Act (amendment)

18- Human Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund

19- Competition Amendment Bill;

20- Economic Empowerment Bill;

21- Standards Bill;

22- Sugar Production Amendment Bill 23-Technical Regulations Bill.

24-Electronic Transactions and Electronic Commerce Bill,

25- Postal and Telecommunications Amendment Bill

26- Zimbabwe Construction Contractors Council Bill

27- Housing Standards Control Act and the Housing and Buildings Act.

28- The Medical Aid Societies Regulatory Authority,

29- Health Professions Act;

30- Family Planning Council Act

31- Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act

32-National Health Insurance Bill

33- National Productivity Institute Bill; 34- Pensions Amendment Bill;

35- Occupational Safety and Health Amendment Bill

36- Human Resources Practitioners Bill

37- National Youth Bill,

38- The Small and Medium Enterprises Act (review)

39- Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies Bill

40- Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill

41- Zimbabwe Media Commission Act (Amendment)

42- Sport, Leisure and Recreation Bill

43- Sports Integrity Bill,

44- Lotteries and Gaming Act(alignment)

45-Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act (amendment)

46- National Heroes Act (amendment)

47- Victims Compensation Act (amendment)

48- Radiation Protection Amendment Bill

49- The Biological Warfare Bill

50-Trafficking in Persons Act (amendment)

51- Immigration Act(amendment)

52-Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act(amendment)

53- National Archives of Zimbabwe Act(amendment);

54- Private Investigators and Security(amendment)

55- Guards (Control) Act(amendment)

56- Official Secrets Act(amendment)

58- Unlawful Organisations Act(amendment)

59- Censorship and Entertainments Control Act (amendment)

60- Births and Deaths Registration Act(amendment).

It was supposed to be a simple exchange of ideas between an Ok Zimbabwe representative  and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Investment Promotion. Appeal for regulation of the informal sector in order to protect formal businesses. This has been the norm over the past years with the corporate sector using its muscle of taxes contributions to the economy and successfully lobbying for state apparatus to curb competition from the informal sector on their behalf.

However everyone was taken aback by the curt response ‘If I were part of the Ok Zimbabwe Board, I would fire you’ Mr  Guvamatanga thundered! He went on to highlight South African case studies of retail behemoths such as Checkers, Pick N Pay and others who have mastered the art of symbiotic partnerships with spazas or tuckshops and unlocking value.

In simple terms, Guvamatanga said ‘Innovate or Die—no state protection coming’

Welcome dear reader to the state of business in Zimbabwe where the informal sector is now dominating and causing serious headaches to long established businesses. With the economy estimated to be at 60% Informal, the figures are not static as the informal economy is relentless in its push for dominance.

A healthy co-existence between formal businesses and informal sector would be preferable like in South Africa as quoted by Guvamatanga. However in Zimbabwe it’s becoming a serious war with much of the formal businesses income being chipped away by unregistered businesses.

An economy in motion and catching many corporate boards by surprise and in sixes and sevens not knowing how to respond!

B2E to OK Zimbabwe Rescue

On these pages, we have extensively covered a business model called B2E or Business 2 Entrepreneur. It is not found anywhere else especially business books. Any search on the internet would produce results of Business 2 Employee and not Business 2 Entrepreneur.

The B2E takes into consideration the current challenges in the economy of record high unemployment and dwindling disposable incomes. This has made practically everyone a hustler—and hustling is the number 1 economic activity in the country ahead of everything else.

OK Zimbabwe has been mostly using the Business 2 Consumer Model (B2C) and this has produced excellent results in the past. However going forward they need to incorporate Business 2 Entrepreneur Business Models in order to survive.

B2E Case studies

Varun Beverages the local manufacturer of PEPSI drinks started operating in Zimbabwe in 2018 and has been giving Delta sleepless nights. How did Varun Beverages achieve a significant share of the market in such a short space of time? They focused on B2E through working with vendors—those who are looking at making money. B2E is about making others make money with the largest contingent, the informal sector.

Varun took vendors as key partners and quickly penetrated the market. Meanwhile Delta is now responding to the threats posed by the new entrant but they are unlikely to recover.

The established master of B2E is Innscor which has been working with small tuckshops for ages. Innscor through Bakers Inn delivers bread on credit to tuckshops and then collect their dues after a few hours. Tuckshop owners want to make money but have no access to capital. Therefore Innscor provides a few hours access to credit and then collect dues.

This has seen the company penetrating informal settlements such as Retreat,Eastview, Hopely, Goromonzi, Epworth, Seke and Domboshava. They have gone mobile in search of income.

Of course this is not to say the OK Zimbabwe is sleeping on the wheel as they have the OK Grand Challenge which is essentially a B2E Concept—making others make money. However this is a once off annual event and may not be enough. They also ventured into money transfers through partnerships with Mukuru, ZINARA, ZBC etc. However this is still not enough as they need to look at what Innscor and Varun Beverages are doing.

For Innscor, the proliferation of tuckshops is a good omen as it creates room for expansion!

And dear reader once more, we are not talking of theory here as in 2020 we established a crowdfunding called Nutricio which manufactured mealie meal. We were turned away by leading retail giants but turned to tuckshops using the Innscor B2E model. Results were instant as we provided goods on credit and collecting our monies later. How are procurement practices of leading retailers structured? Are they small business friendly? Or contributing to the demise of their own companies?

In conclusion, Zimbabwe’s Economic environment is in motion with B2E dominating. There is need for experts to take time and go onto the ground and thoroughly study street dynamics and adjust accordingly. And yes there is need for regulation and formalization of tuckshops. Smuggling especially through Binga needs to be curbed. Policy consistency important as this is the elephant in the room.