So you have to deal with family issues such as where to stay, education for young ones and others. After this what sort of business to do—but if you have been on this forum then you have plenty of ideas of what to pursue. The good news is that the forum is DIASPORA FRIENDLY!

On the streets of Zim you need at least 3 sources of income:

Daily Cashcows: There is not much profit to be obtained from daily cashcow businesses—sometimes they can even be break-even or losses but they help you meet daily expenses without putting pressure on your long term investments. Tuckshops, mshikashikas, buying and selling etc. Low capital outlay and may not last for long for new players. The businesses give you hardknock experience of how Zim operates. However pride may stop you from pursuing these ventures but over time you will appreciate the advice.

Medium term: Capital outlay higher and use the experience from daily cashcows to build your business and I would highly recommend setting up businesses where if they fail, you remain with buildings or equipment to start again or even lease. Invest in commercial buildings where you can afford—don’t limit yourself to towns—even growth points or rural areas targeting the peri-urban or mining areas. Building yako unoramba uinayo, chigayo chinoramba chiripo. Consider manufacturing equipment too—freezits making, oil processing, soap making—unorasika kwete zvakanyanya. The good news is you won’t run out of those interested in selling (B2E model)

Long term: Sometimes overlaps with medium term and includes houses for rentals, students accommodation, colleges, buses and lorries (make sure you insure), plots, ZSE investments, JSE investments, Crypto etc

Avoid renting if you can unless you are trying out a new business opportunity. Visit Seke, Dema, Domboshava for ideas and inspiration—but don’t be duped naanasabhuku. So a minimum of 3 areas you should pursue and you can add more depending on your situation. The good news is you can still find ways to use your skills whilst in Zim. A lot of SA companies likely to still need Zim expertise either as short term consultancies or virtual work.

If you can afford—attend several ZBIN Meetings and be inspired by others in business. Get advice from someone who has followed the same path of returning, engage a financial planning expert, visit others already doing what you intend to do, and take notes. In all of this include your spouses and kids too. All The Best.

How much do you know about scrap metal in Zimbabwe and the opportunities associated with it? One of our members who is an engineer by profession shared insights of opportunities in the area. The hope is that this may help inspire Zimbabweans to appreciate the value chain and tap into related opportunities.

Scrap metal is the backbone of Magaba and Mbare as a whole. The Chinese recycle scrap metal to make that steel for that double storey that you are staying, that double lock-up garage that you stay in, burglar bars, tank stand etc. I can write a whole book on what they make with the crap metal. Another key secret is that the steel is never enough. You have to do under hand dealings in order to get the steel.

My only problem is that no Zimbabwean national is making end products from recycling steel.

They all want to be retailers in Mbare, Willowvale, Msasa etc. The sad thing is that they are satisfied. Even the millionaires do not want to venture into this.

Here is the logic. They buy scrap metal at around US$200_$250 ( from Zimbabweans). They then melt the steel oxygenate it and make the above mentioned steel products. They then then sell to retailers (Zimbabweans) at around US$750. Who in turn sells to you from US$850 to about US$900 to Zimbabweans.

The retailers make a lot of money but why get a slice when you can have the whole cake? We have programmed ourselves to be consumers even on things that we can manufacture ourselves.

Vhuka.