We have always been challenging Zimbabweans to unite! To unite in every facet of life- be it politics, religion or business. Unity does not mean the absence of diversity but our country suffers from the DNA of individualism and as a result a lot of opportunities do fly away.
Perhaps we have been burnt for far too long–relatives, friends, workmates, neighbours and even pastors. It is difficult to trust anyone in Zimbabwe or even Zimbabweans on foreign soil. Expecting them to come together and support a common cause is almost impossible.
The late Prof Masipula Sithole perhaps summarised it well when he said ‘If you take 2 Zimbos to the moon, the following morning; they would have formed 3 political parties’
The journey to unite Zimbabweans in business has not been any easy, to be honest, we have invested a lot, been patient and slowly there is a glimpse of hope. It is just 1% as there is still need for more time till we get Zimbabweans to work and trust each other in business.
The good news is across Limpopo, the team there has done an excellent job. They formed an investment company and registered it in May 2020. It is by Zimbabweans with BIG AMBITIONS and they named it Big Ideas Galore.
Formed in May, the company acquired land in September 2020. For people who did not know each other on January 1 to meet in January and February and map the way forward in crowdfunding activities, this should be a national record!
Bringing 25 shareholders together from all over South Africa is a Herculean Task. We have in the past struggled to get 3 people to our meetings! Yes you may see hundreds of entrepreneurs at our events but it certainly was not easy to mobilise them! Getting them to pool resources inorder to conduct business is akin to moving mountains but slowly we are getting there.
BIG did it in style-they held their first AGM on the land they acquired [OWN LAND]. The first project they will be undertaking is a poultry project and venturing into other areas in future.
With an estimated 3m or more Zimbabweans in the diaspora and with diaspora remittances close to a billion dollars yearly, the diaspora economy is bigger than some GDPs of smaller cities in Zimbabwe.
We wish the team well for sowing the seeds, the target is by end of 2030, to have the first Zimbabwean Diaspora Company listed on the JSE and Yes Its Possible.
We congratulate Zbinites in South Africa and challenge the rest of the forumites across the globe to follow the steps.
For inquiries on joining the initiative, do get in touch with Chairman Blessing on +27 65 046 0436
