Rethinking Zim’s market culture

GENERATIONS emerge and vanish, but the inevitable fate of every generation is to confront daily existential struggles.

The existential merit measure for every generation is observed through lens of history — a barometer of proof of failure or success of any generation in confronting its variant survival struggles.

The generation of our leaders was faced with fighting for Zimbabwe’s independence, most of which we today relate through reading books, but cannot tangibly identify with, sadly because events literary narratives will never have the same impact as lived experiences. But we can value the undiluted sense of patriotism, and use that to leave a trace of our generation’s lived experiences and successes.

Today’s generation grapples with numerous development questions. As a baton from the generation that delivered uhuru, I have always argued that if our generation fails to identify this imperative role, then we become a failed generation.

The epoch of our time is filled with questions on, how do we emancipate ourselves, as a nation and individuals? How do we fight poverty? How do we then ensure that the present successes are sustained beyond our generation?

The rhetoric or religious belief that there is someone out of Zimbabwe who is going to hand us the much needed aid to emancipate us is largely romantic. That is one fundamental myth we have to forget.

Best solutions are always home grown, and the best way towards overcoming that myth is nurturing economic patriotism to create a mindset shift for Zimbabwe’s market culture.

This is fundamental in an import sustained economy which inevitably breeds high in foreign commodities consumerism.

I have so many times heard arguments on how the economy is so informal that you do not know where to get the right deals. It is sad to listen to that with the way Zimbabweans have been so much creative and productive in the midst of all economic downturns.

In the argument of market culture, let me talk of Ownai and its role in changing the market culture in Zimbabwe. I have always thought that this platform has been strategic, specifically at a time where the Government is complementing the “Buy Zimbabwe” campaign through such regulations as the Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016. The same Statutory Instrument is progressively relevant in the envisioned accelerated implementation of the Zim Asset blueprint which was crafted to turn around the socioeconomic fortunes of Zimbabwe. The biggest problem with our market is not that we don’t have quality products. Rather, we are not conscious of our potential as a nation. If we are to change our fortunes, then we need to change our mindset on Zimbabwean products. Ownai, to me, is a creative platform that will help you, the seller, to meet your potential clients, and importantly, you, the consumer to browse through the products that Zimbabwe offers from the comfort of your home. In a society that has embraced the internet, this comes as a creatively fun platform that responds to the problems being faced while making shopping easier than before. So, for a moment, let’s forget a bit about exporting money to eBay, Sammydress and Alibaba, let’s just Ownai it. One thing I have learnt since my first experience with the platform is that, you might not know it, but there is someone out there selling that product you are looking for.

So, how does that then emancipate us? Simple micro economics will tell you that buying local results in more efficient money circulation within the nation, hence everyone is happy. As a consumer, you have a platform that allows you to compare products sold locally, contact them if need be and get the best deal. When the local entrepreneur gets sales, they get an opportunity to grow their business, and businesses can be immortal hence sustained beyond our generation. As long as we don’t think economic patriotism, then we can forget about a tomorrow that is lucrative. We may as well forget about eradicating poverty as we will always want to support foreign products that have no significant returns to our local development.

The platform is also a haven for all new and up-coming entrepreneurs. It is free of charge and this means one can wake up to revamping an ideal buying and selling business and get the visibility they could pay loads of money for if through the conventional marketing.

While the platform has largely impressed me and most individuals who have tried it, it still has flaws that I feel need addressing in the context of economic patriotism. This would be imperative in making the Zimbabwean consumer identify with the product. A factor that worried me when using the platform was that Ownai can list all mobile brands under their cellphones category and forget GTel and other local mobile brands. There are a lot of small entrepreneurs who have brands that are successful or at least promising to be, we should be able to call the platform Zimbabwean because we can identify with it at that level.

Pofela Ndzozi is a Communication Specialist. Feedback can be sent to pofela@abakhokheli.org