So how has the forum fared in 2020? Well it has been a tough year with the Covid-19 Pandemic wreaking havoc and negatively affecting every facet of life with business not spared. However the forum still managed to register some successes and below we look at some of them.

Crowdfunding: The best output from the forum has been the inspiration members got from the forum and pooling resources in order to form companies. Not easy for people located in different parts of the globe to network and pool resources to form companies. We ignited the spirit of crowdfunding and registered several companies such as;

• Agri-volution: Agri business initiative formed in January 2020
• Big Ideas Galore [BIG]: Our South Africa chapter managed to form an own investment company in May 2020
• Nutricio: An agro processing company of 30 shareholders with an initial paid up capital of US$9k
• Global Runners Com: A runner services company registered in South Africa in October 2020
• Patsime: Our biggest crowdfunding initiative to date with a target capital of US$50k

Forum Meetings: Its official, our forum attracted the largest number of members in Zimbabwe! Started on a great note in February with 180 members, increased the tally in March with 200 members before Covid-19 upset the cart in April. We picked up the momentum in October in 2020 with probably the largest local business tour in Zimbabwe with 100 members making it to Seke Tour.

Our RSA chapter joined too holding meetings at the same time with their Zimbabwean counterparts.

We also initiated area specific meetings in November that saw the forum holding meetings in Chitungwiza, Ruwa, Monavale, Warren Park, Kuwadzana, Mufakose, Glenview, Budiriro, Bulawayo and Gauteng. These meetings started on a slow note with expectations of more members attending in December and follow on months.

Formation of ZBIN Women’s Forum: All is set for the launch of the Women’s Wing of the forum which has a target of mobilising and empowering 90,000 women by2025. The forum has already identified 3 projects they will pursue in 2021.

Book Launch: Our books are unique for they cover an area not covered in many books and educational materials—opportunities for Zimbabwe! We launched our book at Capitalk Gardens and also got interview coverage on ZTV Good Morning Show. We also published Zimbabwe’s first book on Digital Marketing in May 2020.

Premium Chats: We introduced Premium Chats that feature our forum members presenting on various topics every Friday evening and the uptake has been encouraging with many presenters coming on board—with solid support forum members.

Record Forum Views: Our Facebook numbers grew to 92,000 as of December 2020 with forum views on a monthly basis shooting from 162,000 to 760,000. The forum  participation is unparalleled in the country for a business forum. This has created a rich platform for access to markets and resource sharing.

 Partnerships: We partnered with Capitalk FM for holding our forum events at their Capitalk Gardens in Chisipite and look forward to more partnerships in 2021

ZBIN TV: We launched our Youtube Channel for featuring and boosting the profiles of forum members. We expect more work to boost the network in 2021.

Business Coach of Year Award: To cap all the great work taking place on the forum, we received an award as finalist for the Business Coach of 2020. This means a lot for us to be recognised by the International Coaching and Mentorship Foundation (ICMF)

Let’s admit it, times are tough and no one has the luxury of attending a business tour more than 40 kilometres from the capital. Transport fares, fuel costs, tollgate fees, food costs and more –but the numbers we witnessed yesterday simply unbelievable—ZBIN is now a force to reckon with in business circles. We set a new benchmark on business tours!

Credit goes to everyone who turned up,

1. The organiser of the tour Mr Mombeshora
2. Farmers who allowed the forum free access to the forum
3. The councillor of the area and of course,
4. Coordinating team—Hopemary Mombeshora, Fadzai Katandika, Lisa Mufanebadza and Darlington Letala
5. Zbinites who provided transport for the members
6. Honourable Rubatika

Our last local tour in 2018 had 7 members touring Melfort but this latest one was simply amazing—massive turn out! There is strong hunger for entrepreneurship in the country and relevant stakeholders should review current strategies of supporting  the sector.

Seke Rural

Thousands of people travel along the Seke/Wedza Road every year. They witness pockets of beautiful homes and some projects—nothing new really—urbanisation of rural areas is ongoing countrywide. However do not be deceived by what you observe along the roads for deeper in communities, far from the roads is where awesome projects are taking place. They are taking place far from the public eye and our forum managed to get rare access to some of the most successful projects.

Piggery Project by Mr Mombeshora

You will not make profits from buying feed from shops—rather buy maize immediately after harvest when its cheap—keep the maize for making concentrates!

Much more was shared by Mr Mombeshora who is a successful piggery farmer who also rears road runners. Look out for the pictures of his project. Will do enough justice in future posts.

Fish Farming

The second project toured was the fish project and vanhu varkuita zvinorova maSeke umu! Unoti haa….zvichiri zvekumusha here  izvi? Several fish ponds, generators and a borehole to pump water. The whole property durawalled and constant income for the owner. Youngsters from college who feel farming is for old people need to visit this project for inspiration.

Goat and Cattle Rearing Project

Due to time constraints, we had to split the tour teams into 2, with the larger group touring the fishery project and the smaller group heading 12km away to tour the cattle and goat rearing project. Lisa Ngirish coming up with the report.

Member  of Parliament Honour:

We were hosted by the Member of Parliament of the area Hon Rubatika. A business man in the area and the biggest opportunity he mentioned should perhaps remain under wraps. Our women’s forum are you there? Discuss how you can use crowdfunding to grab the opportunity—include men and the rest of the forum later—develop a business plan and then apply for the opportunity.

Although the forum hosts a number of parliamentarians from across the political divide, this was the first time ever to be hosted by a parliamentarian and he did not disappoint with a pot of mazondo for forum members. Ainaka here mazondo lol

Of course we will not forget the local councillor and approval processes by the local police. Honourable Rubatika will be added to a few groups such as Agriculture, Tourism Opportunities and the Subscribed group.

BUT the tour was meant to inspire you, now its action, action and more action—action alone, action with friends, action with crowdfunding….we should be touring projects inspired by this tour.

The good news is ZBIN is now a well oiled forum, you might not see much on the forums but when it comes to events, members turn out in large numbers.

Keep it up guys and may your ventures be BLESSED Abundantly

More news on follow up events coming

Makadadisa Zbinites rambai makadero#