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.

Have you ever had an experience where a business went above and beyond to meet your needs? A few years ago, I found myself in the streets of Harare, on the hunt for some electrical appliances. I stumbled upon a shop owned by a Pakistani man, and while I could find most of the items on my list, one was out of stock. I was about to leave the store disappointed, but the owner had a different idea.

Rather than turning me away, this savvy businessman offered to fetch the item from his “brother’s” shop nearby. His proposal intrigued me, and I agreed to let him make the call. A young man arrived with the appliance I was looking for in just a matter of minutes. I paid for my items and left the store with a smile on my face.

This experience taught me a valuable lesson about the power of business networking. By cultivating relationships with other businesses in their community, this shop owner was able to provide a level of service that went above and beyond what I expected. He could have easily sent me away, but he took the time to connect with his brother and ensure I left his store satisfied.

As a digital marketer, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is for businesses to build relationships with other professionals in their industry. By collaborating with others, businesses can tap into new markets, share ideas and resources, and ultimately provide better customer service. In today’s competitive landscape, offering a good product or service is insufficient. You need to be able to differentiate yourself from the competition, and one of the best ways to do that is by cultivating a strong network of professionals who can help you grow your business.

So the next time you find yourself in a situation where you can’t meet a customer’s needs, don’t just send them away. Take a page from this Pakistani shop owner’s book and see if someone in your network can help. You never know where that connection might lead, which could be the key to unlocking new opportunities for your business.