Diaspora Matters

The major advantage of being a ZBIN member is access to business opportunity information. A ZBIN member is technically a rich person because you have access of where to get funding, you also have access to a large pool of practical business ideas. If you follow us, all you need to do is to go through the hundreds of articles posted on this site. There can be no better hub of business opportunities than ZBIN. If you want more information then you can follow discussions on our Facebook Page. If your hunger for more informaion on business opportunities is not satisfied then you can join our Whatsapp Platforms where business resources and information is shared through active discussions. If you want more detailed information then you then subscribe to ZBIN membership for $10 for 6 months and have access to a lot of other information which we do not easily share on the other platforms.

Take for example the information we are sharing for free with you today, we have already shared it with subscribed members, some have taken advantage and we now share it for free with you for weekend reading.

Candy Floss Business Idea

Did you read our post on areas where Zimbabweans are spending money on? Food is on top of the priority list. Education for kids-infact Zimbabweans are spending more money on kids when compared to other areas. Food for kids, Education for kids, Clothing for kids, Entertainment for kids etc. The idea of a candy floss business would suit someone interested in kids business. Making candy at pre-school parties, school events, kid events. Target areas include places where parents take kids for entertainment-Megga2, Longcheng, Lake Hunyani etc. For inspiration one may need to visit the Lion and Cheeter Park.

Price Ranges

You can purchase them from South Africa and prices vary from R800 for basic candy floss machines to as high as R8.000.

Where to get information

https://www.alibaba.com/countrysearch/ZA/candy-floss-machine-supplier.html

https://www.gumtree.co.za/s-candy+floss+machine+for+sale/v1q0p1

http://www.softservemachines.co.za/candy-floss-machine-candyfloss-for-sale.html

Second Business Idea

I was in Rusape in March this year and needed to fix my truck which had a key problem. So when i asked for directions of where to find a locksmith, I was referred to Nyathi who operates next to Ok Stores. So i went there and got Nyathi to fix my key and in the meantime decided to find out business at the flea market located next o Ok Stores.

Whilst there-i got an opportunity to have a chat with one of the ladies who was selling fresh fried chips. She had a wonderful Chip Fryer and at first i thought it was powered by electricity but got a suprise to learn that it is gas powered and mobile too!

Then we got to serious business talk, how much does she earn per day? Her answer was that business had gone down in recent months. She was now making on average daily sales of $7 per day from the previous $20 -$30 she used to make in 2016. Sometime business peaks when she sells her chips and sausages at church functions or sporting events or during weekends.

Potential

We recommend the mobile chip fryer for our members dotted across the country. It is fuel economic, it is mobile and affordable. You can use it to earn an extra income at sporting events, school functions, church gatherings etc. One setting up a fryer at a busy rural business centre such as Mverechena or Showgrounds should be able to make profits. The hidden trick in the business is the price of chips….for $1 a pack, customers will always be willing to buy-who doesnt want fresh chips for such a small amount? It can provide serious competition to $1 sadza plate sellers.

So there you are-sometimes we are talking of megga investment business ideas such as the Truck Inns, or opening up a pub at Westgate or we are talking of businesses that do not require a lot of capital, businesses that bring $5-$20 in revenue-this is the beauty of ZBIN, we cover the needs of everyone-small scale or big scale investor.

In the meantime we are blessed to recieve an invite from one of the leading pentecostal churches in Chitungwiza. We hope to do our best for a free business presentation. The aim is to inspire church members and equip them with business identification skills and be able to take advantage of them.

ZBIN wishes you a Blessed Weekend.

We have an excellent 68 page document for free download. The document helps our members who are interested in investing in Mozambique. It provides a legal framework for starting up companies and has various checklists and flow charts in English.

Followers of Dr Strive Masiyiwa should have noticed an interesting trend-emphasis on opportunities presented by globalisation and the internet. One of the most influential business persons in Africa has been inspiring followers to view the internet as a rich business platform which is yet to be fully exploited. Below we cover a topic related to the internet opportunities-Knowledge Economy.

The growing access to digital technologies could fundamentally transform developing economies.

The move from hunter-gathering to the age of farming and the dawn of the Industrial Revolution 12,000 years later mark seminal transitions in human history, lifestyle and wellbeing. Now in the digital age, our civilization may be in the midst of another equally great transformation. The age of the knowledge economy.   In the past, an abundant labour force and exploitation of natural resources were the engines of growth. Now companies mine data, not gold seams, in search of riches. They harvest mobile apps rather than apples. Information is widely believed to be the future source of prosperity.   The term ‘knowledge economy’ was coined in the 1960s to describe a shift from traditional economies to ones where the production and use of knowledge are paramount. Academic institutions and companies engaging in research and development are important foundations of such a system. And so are those who apply this knowledge — the programmers developing new software and search engines to utilise data and the health workers who use data to improve treatments. Once knowledge has been picked up by these central brokers, employers and workers in more traditional fields may begin using information to improve their work environment, for example the supply chain efficiency of a small company or the harvesting of crops on a farm.   Underpinning it all are information and communication technologies (ICT). In a world where fast access to information is vital, internet availability rules. Governments looking to push their nations towards a knowledge economy put technology development at the heart of their strategies. In this sense, the prize for every country is to have its own Silicon Valley of internet-based start-ups and innovative small businesses.   But in reality the path to a knowledge economy often remains elusive. There is still no agreed definition of what a knowledge economy is. Indeed, it could be argued that such a system doesn’t really exist in any meaningful sense. After all, human cultures have always relied on knowledge to survive and improve their lives.   According to the World Bank, knowledge economies are defined by four pillars.

These are: institutional structures that provide incentives for entrepreneurship and the use of knowledge, skilled labour availability and good education systems, ICT infrastructure and access, and, finally, a vibrant innovation landscape that includes academia, the private sector and civil society.   Based on these criteria, all countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are moving towards becoming knowledge economies. But Africa is left trailing. On the World Bank’s Knowledge Economic Index, the continent’s score is only a third of North America’s and half of East Asia and the Pacific’s.

Lagging behind

Most of the world’s biggest universities, academic publishers and patent applications hail from the global North. Look online and this pattern repeats itself: almost twice as many Wikipedia articles exist for topics related to France as for the whole of Africa. [2] Online directories of geographical names and features are particularly threadbare for African regions. Clearly, African countries are lagging behind as both creators and users of online knowledge. The lack of infrastructure in many African countries does not help the situation. Despite a thicket of undersea cables that have been lying along the coast of Africa since 2009, a World Bank Connecting Africa report from 2013 points out that access to high-speed broadband for the average African citizen remains patchy at best. [3] It goes on to say that the continent also lacks the level of computer literacy needed to drive a knowledge economy. There are signs, though, that this trend may be changing. The number of African countries with official strategies to improve access to the internet rose from 32 in 2007 to 48 in 2011. One example is Kenya, where the government hopes to make ICT companies account for ten per cent of GDP by 2030 through its Kenya Vision 2030 plan, using a mixture of business incentives and infrastructure development.  This vision has given birth to numerous centres for digital innovation around the country and a technology park dedicated to ICTs in the capital. Nairobi’s iHub brings together young entrepreneurs with investors and potential partners. It boasts more than 16,000 members, and the organisers say that more than 150 companies have begun life within its walls. Elsewhere, there are other positive examples. Kigali in Rwanda, Lagos in Nigeria and Accra in Ghana all have their own dynamic start-up scenes where companies have launched mobile apps, education websites and consumer payment services, to name just a few. Many of these examples involve skills in programming, business administration and engineering — employment areas that bring better wages and build local human and technical capacity.

Scraps of knowledge

But there is another, less glamorous side to the knowledge economy — microwork. Microwork involves breaking down complex data-driven activities into small parcels that can then be farmed out to employees. This can involve transcribing audio or video clips, categorising images for search engines or updating databases. In short, it’s anything that machines are still not very good at.

It is low-skilled and low-paid, which is why companies in need of such services often look towards developing nations to subcontract the work. According to Mark Graham, a senior researcher from the Oxford Internet Institute, it is this sector that African governments and businesses are positioning themselves towards. Unfortunately, in places where there are limited possibilities for learning and job progression, microwork is usually paired with low job security and poor working conditions. “Is it that much different to working in a garment sweatshop?” asks Graham. “It’s too early to say if this is good for development, but there are worrying signs.” There also remain other clear obstacles to the development of knowledge economies in Africa. Despite improving internet penetration — both fixed and mobile — Africa’s ICT infrastructure is impeded by sporadic electricity supply in many areas. And there is another, more fundamental barrier. Literacy is essential for effectively accessing the troves of information that make a knowledge economy possible. Yet as nearly 40 per cent of African adults are illiterate, a large part of the population cannot participate in the knowledge economy in any meaningful way.  Trust is another big issue, says Graham. Most clients within the knowledge economy are based in the West and often equate African firms with unreliability and corruption, which makes them hesitant to enter into business deals. So, rather than aiming to snare big international contracts, African companies should focus locally, Graham recommends. Using knowledge, he says, is all about cultural context, so knowing their markets gives firms a competitive advantage that international providers lack. The knowledge economy holds great promise for developing countries, but depending on the availability of infrastructure and human capital, this promise can turn into a mirage. The economic ideology of creating economic growth through boosting knowledge cannot be applied thoughtlessly. Before jumping head first into the knowledge economy, developing country governments need to take stock and ask themselves whether such a system is achievable, and indeed desirable, for their country.

Credit:www.scidev.net

HJR Retail Group B.V., a Netherlands-based company, is offering businesspeople and entrepreneurs across Africa the opportunity to become exclusive agents and distributors for its range of cleaning equipment and products.

The company specialises in the sale of new and used cleaning equipment and detergents for hotels, restaurants, factories, public transport, public buildings, retail stores and shopping centres, among others. One important focus are special custom-made cleaning solutions for trains, buses, hotels and airports.

The cleaning equipment industry is seeing rapid growth in many African countries, supported by the development of office, retail and hospitality properties.

HJR Retail Group supplies world-class brands such as Eurosteam, Stolzenberg, Taski, Hako, Tennant, Cleanfix, Fimap and Ghibli, to name a few. All new products come with a minimum one-year warranty.

Having already established a presence in East Africa, HJR Retail is now looking to further grow its business across the continent. Agents and distributors will receive support in terms of product training and marketing materials.

The company’s warehouse in the Netherlands is in close proximity to some of Europe’s largest seaports, allowing for fast shipment to Africa.

Our position on the Diaspora is very clear-we are a Diaspora friendly forum and whenever we design programmes or trainings, we will be having the Diaspora in mind. Take for instance our Tenders Tracker, a Diasporan is not likely to have access to tenders information, what is new, what are the trends etc. ZBIN ensures that our members have up to date information on tenders by compiling this information and posting it on our site or distributing it to subscribed members through our online newsletter. Our board is made up of 50% Diasporans and this ensures that there is sufficient representation of the Diaspora Voice is all the work that we do.

ZBIN and Youths

We also realise that most of our members are young people. Some are still at college, some recently finished college or some graduated but have no formal employment. Some are already in business or intending to start business. So what is the policy of ZBIN in relation to youths?

Our policy is that of assisting youths in everything that we do and to date we have covered various youths programmes such as:

1. Youth Fund Opportunities by Potraz
2. Interview with Roselyn Marere on Business Opportunities in India
3. Employment Tracker to assist youths seeking employment
4. Promotion of a Poultry App by a forum youngster
5. The ZBIN Logo was designed by a young forum member called Tafadzwa
6. The ZBIN website was redesigned by a young member with a company called SBT
7. Our forum ZBIN Online Forex Trading targets young members
8. We have been invited by a local university to carry out a business presentation targetting university students
9. Featured the Bus Stop Start Up Interview to inspire youths
10. ZBIN’s Tender Tracker is carried out by a young member of the forum
11. We have actively promoted start ups from young members of the forum

So our forum caters the youth because the youth are particularly vulnerable to unemployment as a result of a combination of factors related to their lack of skills, lack of work experience, lack of collateral and limited access to business support services tailored towards their needs.

We will therefore be actively promoting the participation of youths in business especially in areas of provision of information and capacity building, promotion of initiatives targeting youths and covering businesses that do not require a lot of capital-startups.

Our best initiative targeting youths is the Online Forex Trading Initiative where we have provided various free trainings to our members so that they can have an appreciation of this initiative that has great potential to provide income to young forum members. The area of online forex trading has however been dogged by fraudsters who hoodwink the public into investing in them and thereafter disappearing with funds. Our policy at ZBIN is that members trade on their own, we give free information, provide training and enable members to network with seasoned traders. This helps in inspiring young members learn the ropes in a conducive environment where everything happens above board.

So to young members in business , the message is that ZBIN has got you covered and whenever we come out with initiatives, one of the key questions is ‘How about the Youths?’

Have you seen folks who just say ‘iri business iri rine mari’ and then plunge in and invest? There are no sufficient studies to find out the profitability of the investment, the impact of the economy on the business, the regulatory environment, the impact of smuggling on the business, the impact of elections on the business-i cango on and on listing variables that affect a business. The point here is that when planning to invest a substantial amount of money in any business venture, you are going to do thorough studies or risk sinking money into loss making ventures.

The ‘business iri rine mari’ (this business is profitable) concept has led to the high rate of business failures and also the flooding of any emerging business opportunities. Take for instance the purchasing of a kombi-most just transfer funds to Beforward, receive your vehicle, get all the necessary permits, hire a driver and conductor and within a few weeks the kombi is on the road! There is no study to determine the current trends in the industry, current or future plans by the government, how many kombis already exist and future outlook. For most investors in the sector-its get sufficient funds to import a kombi and hire employees-end of story and this usually results in investors making losses because they may not have full knowledge of the business.

We often give the example of the quail bird projects which once took Zimbabwe by storm in 2016. Some took bank loans and invested heavily in the projects. A few months after investment then came the shock news of the project ban! Those who had invested in the project had obviously not done enough studies because they should have checked the position of regulatory authorities on the project.

Inorder to assist our members to invest wisely, we are giving you a free business template for download. Carefully study the contents especially on marketing, distribution, competition, future products, technology, products, finanial information etc. This should give you general guidance on what a business plan is. Subscribed members of the forum can downoad a business plan checklist from our Facebook page.

The major advantage of being a member or follower of ZBIN is being able to benefit from free business ideas, resources and information. If you are a subscribed member you have added advantages of being the first to benefit from information before we cascade it to others.

To date we have helped subscribed members with business opportunities in the local tourism sector, energy sector, consultancy sector , food sector and transport sectors. We have seen a number of our members registering patents and this is good for the community.

Today we cover one business opportunity and it comes free of charge targeting the Diaspora Community. Our opportunity is for the manufacture of vending carts, there are currently no brand name manufacturing companies that are looking at the vending business.

Neat and clean designs can really help to improve business for owners of carts, they also improve in terms of mobility. In Harare we do have mobile cars found along major roads such as Lomagundi and Harare Drive but these old trucks cannot compete for customers with some of the designs you will see below.

So for the Diaspora community those thinking of relocating or investing back home in the nearby future, we urge you to study this sector closely or inquire from ZBIN for a detailed business plan.

The above cart is manufactured in South Africa

• Meanwhile, were you aware of the ZBIN Free Online Forex Trading that is happening tomorrow in Harare?

ZBIN continues to be a forum of choice when it comes to business in Zimbabwe. We have a lot of information and resources to assist our members. Today we share with you information on raising goats as a business. Feel free to download it from our site. The manual was  compiled by the Department of Agricultural Research and Extension, Matopos Research Station Represented by J.L.N. Sikosana & T.S. Senda .

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The Ministry of ICT and Courier Services is inviting ICT Innovators, Start Ups and Entrepreneurs to apply for funding in the form of loans under the ICT Innovation Drive Project.

Inorder to be considered they need the following:

• Detailed brief of the ICT, Innovation
• Business Plan and a Budget
• Any ICT based product, service, business model or process that is new to the market with unique features that is successfully implemented to address a current need in a new or better way

Eligibility

Any ICT Innovator or start ups that have brilliant innovations or solutions that have potential to revolutionise its target market and/ or drastically change the lives of Zimbabweans and the economy as a whole.

Application Process

Send a copy of the descriptive business plan, projections and budget required, clearly indicated ‘Application for Innovation Project Funding’ to innovationdrive@potraz.gov.zw

The deadline for submission is 30 May 2017.

This is the third fund we have featured on the site for our members. Excellent initiative for Young Members of the forum. This is why we have been reminding members to always have business ideas and business plans ready  even when you do not have funding! Do look forward to general guidance of how to sucessfully apply for funding.

One of our greatest strengths as a business  forum is that our members are well informed. They get regular updates on their website, Facebook Page, Twitter, Online Newsletters and soon there will be an App where you can receive business news, videos and audios in real time.

We do our best to cover areas that are usually not normally covered by the mainstream media. Areas such as DRC, Angola, Tanzania, China, Rwanda, Mozambique, Dubai and India. We like India a lot because of the success of their start up businesses. We believe India can inspire Zimbabweans especially our young entrepreneurs and to date we have covered 2 Indian .features on our site. We also have a couple of Indian nationals on our forums with Mahesh being the most popular one on our WhatsApp platforms.

 Most of our features are on Zimbabwe as we try and help our Diasporan Brothers and Sisters and Foreign nationals to be clued up of developments in Zimbabwe. We do not like you to be  left out of business developments or investment opportunities in the wonderful country called Zimbabwe!

Today we however twist the tables  and feature the Diaspora. We have already done features on the Diaspora covering Dubai, Angola, DRC, Canada, Namibia and today we cover  India where our Official ZBIN contact provides an  insight into developments in India. In addition to modelling, she is a business woman in her own right. Below is an interview we carried out with her-tihwe zvizere kubva kumwana wevhu wemutupo wekwa Mbano.

Tell us about yourself

Hello, I’m Nyasha Roselyn Marere born and bred in Harare and I come from Buhera . Growing up I stayed in Budiriro and when turned 5 s we moved to Highfield New Canaan in Harare. I grew up staying in the ghetto and I attended Mhofu Primary school. In 2006 we moved to Mount Hampden better known as Goodhope.

I attended Chindunduma High 1 School then transferred to ZRP High School then to rounded up A level at  Elephant college. After  school I travelled to South Africa Port Elizabeth where I worked as a cashier in a restaurant called Fishaways before relocating  to India. I came for studies (BA Vocational Traveling and Tourism 2012-2015). I have to admit India is not like America lol there are some nice places yes but it’s overpopulated. A billion plus people so anyone can relate with the living standards. Unlike back home most houses are flats therefore few  playgrounds for the kids and most of the flats can get up to 15 floors each.

Tell us about the weather in India

India is one of the hottest countries on earth and temperatures  can get up to 50 degrees and trust me for someone who grew up in Zimbabwe you are bound to get sick the first summer. However there’s winter too between November and March and yes it is cold I remember my first year got up to ~4 degrees and that was new for me haha. Some places do snow but just a few. On the other hand India is beautiful it has a lot of tourist attractions and I have not finished visiting them.

How about Indian Food?

There’s wide variety of dishes in India , it is popular because of the spice but there’s also non spicy food and it’s delicious. I bet no one even the Indians have not tasted all their dishes. I do like Indian food but not every day, I usually eat it according to craves .

Business Opportunities in India

There are a lot of business opportunities in India mostly in the medical field. Medicine is way cheap in India judging with my experience one cannot be ill for more than 3 days because a lot of hospitals and pharmacies are all over in India. Unless one is coming for serious ailments like kidney disease or heart,  the rest of the medicine costs very less. One can also indulge in hair business because India is where it all happens with the way ladies want to be on fleek wearing Indian, Brazilian and Peruvian hair this is the best place to get it and at a more affordable price. Indians rarely employ foreigners because they are still accommodating their people first and they are a lot.

 What you enjoy most about India

What I love about India in the business world is there are a lot of SMEs. Anything is turned into business here there are a lot of small shops everywhere, whether selling groceries or maybe cigarettes- they always have something on the side generating cash for them no matter the size of profits. Unlike in Zimbabwe one will be wondering why they should put a table by the roadside and start a side business. Here there is a lot of informal business going on with a lot of people invoved in it.

Cost of Living in India

The costs of living in India depends with a persons’ taste. If you want to live at  crowded places then obviously the costs will be low but if you are looking for a quieter and a little bit fancy place then the costs will also be high.

How did you end up in the modelling industry?

I started modelling in 2013 after the death of my father because I was going through a hard time and needed to move on which we all know that’s impossible. However despite my dreams of wanting to be a pilot/ governor/ air hostess I told myself I want to partake on something I never imagined or that I think I cannot do and boom I decided to be a model. It wasn’t easy I must admit with the fake agencies etc I had to be strong but somehow I made it. I was juggling both studies and modelling and am proud of my achievements to date.

Benefits derived from Modelling

 Modelling has helped me believe in myself, gain confidence and make very important connections because in India  one definately needs a  few connections to survive.

Do you have any business ventures back home

I do buying and selling sometimes of hair for mostly my friends but I believe very soon I will start something related to modelling.

Zimbo Community in India

Honestly I’m not really sure about the Zimbabwean community in India. In New Delhi there are a few i have come across  but i hear that there could be plenty in places like Hyderabad and Bangalore. I would have talked about religion and culture but that’s a topic for another day haha. I encourage Zimbabweans who mostly want to send their kids for school to send them here as the education system in India is good. For those who want to visit they are also welcome there are a lot of tourist attractions in India and you cannot finish them all.

Ko Mutupo?

Mambano

Any other business you are involved in apart from modelling?

I have started new work as a fitness trainer. You know how much people are fighting diseases that come with overweight so I do train clients and this includes  making  diet plans. I’m also a model advisor working with young women interested in the industry.

Your Contact Details

I’m glad to be a part of this interview and to those who wish to connect with me on social network here are my usernames Facebook: Roselyn Marere ,Twitter: Roselyn Marere , Instagram: roselyn_marere , snapchat: rosiemre

Are you a Diasporan and would like to be featured on ZBIN? If your answer is yes then contact us on +263774081808, strictly whatsapp and no calls-thank you.