Unlocking Matabeleland’s entrepreneurial potential: Lessons from a local expert

Nkosile Khumalo

Aspiring entrepreneurs in Matabeleland have been urged to tap into the region’s untapped business opportunities with courage and a solid strategy.

Speaking during a WhatsApp discussion hosted by Matabeleland Pulse, business incubation specialist Jabulani Ncube highlighted the importance of starting small and leveraging existing resources to launch a business, even in the face of financial challenges.

Ncube, who works with entrepreneurs under the Bulawayo Business Network, shared that young people can overcome the lack of capital by using what they already have.

“If you’re unemployed and broke, you’re already at the bottom and the bottom is always a good place to start,” he explained.

He encouraged the youth to take advantage of their smartphones and the internet to explore ventures such as designing posters and flyers using tools like Canva, or even finding small services to offer within their communities.

He went on to emphasize that Zimbabwe’s underdeveloped economy presents opportunities for innovation.

“Zimbabwe is virgin land,where amakorokoza gather there’s an opportunity to do isitshwala and sell it to them. We now have a number of cars, which means these cars need to be washed regularly that’s an opportunity,” he pointed out.

Ncube also stressed the need for young people to explore the tech space.

“I wish our youth would spend their TikTok hours learning coding, machine learning, cybersecurity, or web design.Free online courses are available to equip them with the skills to create scalable businesses that can expand beyond Zimbabwe,” he advised.

Despite the existence of some funding structures such as Empower Bank, Women’s Bank and Constituency Development Funds, Ncube was blunt about the reality that many of these structures are not accessible to ordinary youths.

“Most structures are built to benefit founders and executives, not the average young person. Our banks loan out less than 10% of their funds to entrepreneurs,hence  young entrepreneurs must be innovative in raising capital,” Ncube said.

In terms of networking, Ncube encouraged young entrepreneurs to join business communities locally and internationally to broaden their horizons.

“Zimbabwe is a small market with around 14 million people. Collaborate with entrepreneurs in other parts of the world. Your phone is a bridge to global opportunities,” he advised.

He concluded the discussion by underscoring the critical skills required for success,visibility, persistence and being good at selling.

“Be seen, be heard and be good at what you do. You may have the best product, but if you’re not the best seller, it won’t pay the bills,” he concluded.

The session was a call to action for young entrepreneurs to start small, leverage the opportunities in their communities and push their ventures to the next level despite the challenges of the local market.