Zim Business Ideas and Network (ZBIN)

Business Ideas for Zimbos based in Dubai

by Victor Muchemwa on November 8, 2017

The number of Zimbos in Dubai has been increasing over the past few years. A lot of professionals have been finding jobs in the oil rich Gulf Region. A number of the people who emigrated are looking for opportunities to invest in back home and ZBIN would like to assist them in decision making.

One of the areas to invest in is the Information and Technology sector; buying and selling IT equipment such as laptops, printers, cellphones etc. Demand in this sector is growing, the number of young adults in Zimbabwe is estimated at 67% and this generation represents a huge market for the products. Most of the products sourced from the region are sold at more than thrice the cost in Dubai. The products can be sourced cheaply in bulk in the Middle East Region.

How to do it?

Partner with locals who put in 50% stake in the business ‘never partner with anyone who is not putting in an equal share especially in the current environment’. Get a formal partnership and ship in these goods for sale in the country. Be of course wary of the fluctuations in the forex exchange and price your products accordingly.

Do not just plunge into the business without enough market surveys and business researches especially on the import duties charged.

We wish our hard working cousins in the Gulf States success as they analyse investment options back home.

Diaspora Matters

South Africa Information Technology Opportunities for Indians

by Victor Muchemwa on November 6, 2017

Our forum is India friendly as we have a lot of members and followers in India. We often get a lot of inquiries from the

Diaspora Matters

Weekly Update: Bitcoin Week

by Victor Muchemwa on November 6, 2017

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The reception for the forum in Lesotho last week was awesome, we found the Basotho waiting for us at the border - the journey had

Diaspora Matters

Supporting Enterprising Ladies

by Victor Muchemwa on November 5, 2017

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Val is one of the ladies we trained on making carpets a moth ago. During the training she teamed up with another lady and formed

Diaspora Matters

Free Digital Marketing Book for Download

by Victor Muchemwa on November 3, 2017

Master digital marketing and you would have opened doors to endless opportunities! Our forum has been debating on what is more important-start up capital or

Diaspora Matters

Opportunities for Zimbos in Maseru

by Victor Muchemwa on November 2, 2017

A trip from Joburg to Maseru costs R250. You can choose to go directly by road with kombis or go the longer route of going to Bloemfontein and then connect to Maseru. We chose the longer route and were not disappointed. Maseru the capital city of Lesotho is located right at the border with SA, you cross the border and immidiately cross into the Capital City….its like Harare situated at Beitbridge!

The city is clean and resembles Kigali, perhaps Kigali a little higher on cleanliness ranking but in terms of being a hilly city-Yebo, the city looks like Kigali.

Zimbo Opportunities:
1.A lot of construction coming up especially in medium to low density areas-chance for contruction companies from Zim to check out on more opportunities.

2.Telecoms sector-Dr Strive Masiyiwa is already there through Econet Lesotho-they have the same logo and Ecocash exists too. They had introduced a new innovation-looks like they are doing well.
3.Publishing- Remember Basildon Peta? He is a publisher there of a popular weekly-Lesotho Times.
4. Zimbos into buying and selling- We are popular there, involved in arts and crafts plus some are now into buying stuff from SA and selling in Lesotho. They have become residence that side and only coming to Zim at the end of the year.

New Developments:
There are changes to the import and registration of goods from SA especially in relation to clearing agencies use. A chance for Sons and Daughters of the soil to explore this area.

What else?

Highly recommend the IT sector review-unlimited opportunities. ZBIN is also spearheading the production of carpets because the country produces top quality wool which they export to China…ZBIN is saying, be an exporter of carpets rather than wool-create local jobs first before shipping wool abroad.

The people there very friendly, hard working and one can easily fit in. Their local currency easily changeable with the Rand, infact its slightly stronger than the Rand.

Accomodation
Had expected to pay R300 or thereabouts like in Bloemfontein but was suprised with R500 up to R900 range at a modest lodge.

MMM
Surprising to note that the ponzi scheme which collapsed in Zim in Dec 2016 was still around and had collapsed the previous week-not for the first time but for the second time. Most know its a ponzi scheme but still they joined anyway.

Malawi Rice
Our trainer from Durban had brought Masawu, Sis Nelly could have purchased from Joburg but they proved popular. We checked on knowledge of Malawi Rice and confirmed that they do not know about this delicacy from Malawi. Hoping to bring some sample next time we make follow ups.

Verdict
Visit Lesotho and find out opportunities on the ground.