Bullish Thoughts likes researching on matters of African development
and Zimbabwe’s own entrepreneurs at large.
To this end he is always crawling on the world wide web of information
looking for Zimbabweans who have made it big locally or in the world and how
they have done it.
He was thus quite fascinated when he came across the interview of Dr
Nkosana Moyo at the Harvard Business School Africa Business Conference.
Dr Nkosana Moyo is one of the few thought leaders from Zimbabwe that
have managed to be granted opportunities to share their views particularly on
development and youth involvement in the same development.
In the HBS interview, Dr Nkosana talked a lot about how the youth can
shape their aspirations and make an impact on the global space moreso in this
age of technology. (Bulls n Bears will upload this interview on its website
soon).
Taking responsibility for one’s development and growth was the mantra
of the interview.
Zim entrepreneurs of note…
Of course, the Zimbabwe Entrepreneurial history has got some very good
case studies of Zimbaweans now in their prime who took their chances.
We probably all know of Strive Masiyiwa and the telecoms behemoth that
Econet Wireless has since become (at least behemoth by Zimbabwean standards).
One would probably say, in the entrepreneurial and employment creation
field, Econet Wireless is perhaps the epitome of a success story. In the same
employer category is Divine Ndhlukula whose firm Securico employees at
least 4,500 people on a diversified physical and electronic security solutions
platform with a turnover in excess of $14m.
There is also Mighty Movies owned by Journalist Supa Mandiwanzira which
began from humble beginnings. We should also remember that these guys once ran
Rainbow Cinemas but were quick to realise that the business was going downhill
with inflation and moved in to radio with ZiFM Stereo one of the most listened
to.
Also in the tech and networks space is David Behr, founder of ZOL now
part of Liquid Telecomm. Africom also did well in the early years but have somewhat
gotten clouded with corporate governance issues (typical downfall for start-ups).
The Y Generation entrepreneurs…
Bullish Thoughts has to some extend seen the younger generation
attempting to make their mark on the local space particularly in the media
industry…Bulls n Bears included of course.
Others like Proposer Chikomo decided the “book writing route” and even
managed to sneak his book onto Kindle Store and Bullish Thoughts just had to
buy the book just to support great initiatives by fellow Zimbabweans.
There is TechZim covering tech related issues for the c ountry and
somewhat beginning to influence debate on the Internet and networks front
having held some conferences to that effect.
The rest are in the periphery…anonymous to say the least…and somewhat
biased towards web development but not to the scale of BigLaw or C2.
Where is the rest of the Y
Generation?
Do you have a Y Generation individual in your house? Have they made their
impact yet no matter how small? Are you encouraging them and giving them the
relevant support?
Is the Y Generataion of Zimbabwe hungry for knowledge and making a
difference in the country? Are they pushing the frontiers of knowledge moreso
with the advent of the Internet and mobile computing?
What is stopping the Youth of Zimbabwe from providing the ultimate
solution to the challenges of excessive imports of basic goods into the
country?
What is stopping the youth from doing basic projects like poultry and
chicken so that the country does away with imported chickens and pork products?
Zimbabwe has:-
- · Water challenges (if you were ever in doubt about the water situation in the country, Harare in particular, the past two weeks should have taught you a lesson)
- · Power challenges (seems only Econet Wireless is taking advantage of this and Bullish Thoughts even uses an Econet Home Power Station in rural Chivhu @10c/ day
- · e-learning shortcomings
- · glut of tomatoes (in Mutoko & Domboshava)
- · the audacity to import chickens from as far afield as Brazil
All the above are problems require solutions. Can anyone think of a
solution that can eventually be commercialised?
Most of the successful people we know of (whether employers or working
for someone) started off in an even more difficult environment. They walked
10km one way to school, without shoes or uniforms and finished A level in some
cases without never having seen a computer.
They still made it in business.
Supa Mandiwanzira (ZiFM) says: “… The economic freedom train is taking off
in Zimbabwe, Be on it!...!”
Dr Nkosana Moyo (MINDS) says youth should still get to university but
with the ultimate aim being to spot and take advantage of opportunities and create
employment. It’s not bad to get an education so as to be employed but the
primary aim should be being an
employer.
Zimbabwe’s future lies in its entrepreneurs!
Invest Wisely!
Bulls n Bears (Pvt) Ltd
55 Broughton Drive
Sunridge, Harare
Cellphone: +263 77 344 1674
Alt. Email: bulls@bulls.co.zw
Website: www.bulls.co.zw
Twitter: @bullsbears2010
LinkedIn: Bulls n Bears Zimbabwe
Facebook: Bulls
n Bears Zimbabwe
Skype: bulls.bears
Telephone: +263
4 2927658
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