Her favourite business stories in 2020

WHEN the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak, a friend dismissed this year as “waste”, and a “goner”. I beg to differ. It has been my best year yet. However, it revealed true resilience and staying power, of companies, organisations and individuals who were willing to adapt and grow amid all the uncertainty, negativity and hopelessness.

Fred Rodgers, aptly sums up how hopeful we should all become in situations such as these. He notes that; “often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.”

Indeed, it was a year of new beginnings, experiments, innovations, policy shifts, partnerships and many other remarkable things within the business sector and within our society. The onion of course cemented itself as the “Vegetable of the Year” while Dettol found its “new mojo” as a disinfectant of choice.

However, amid all this chaos, I was inspired by how people simply decided to adjust and move on. We saw innovation at its best, we leant new things and for some they did what they had to do and survived.

Dear reader, herewith the business stories that inspired me this year:

The shift in workforce behaviour

Most of us we are guilty of “donning on our “Covid-19 attire” (Consisting of a jacket, over some pyjamas, some bedroom slippers and some makeup) for that Zoom meeting. Indeed, this was the year “Technophobes” could not run as you had to work from “Teams” and “Zoom”. Companies found themselves with new serious expenditure lines of Wi-Fi data. For our part our “glee” of running away from bosses was short lived. I did miss the office banter though as a consultant I normally work from home. The point though is, amid all the fear, “the show still went on”.

Small and big businesses survived one of the worst

pandemics in history

There is no doubt that the pandemic negatively affected business growth patterns across the globe. The global, Gross Domestic Product had a contraction rate of 5,2 percent making it the biggest recession ever envisioned in history.

The World Bank also predicts that the recessions are expected to leave “lasting scars through lower investment, an erosion of human capital through lost work and schooling, and fragmentation of global trade and supply linkages”.

At most “people oriented” service industries suffered the most because of social distancing rules. One of these industries in Zimbabwe is the Events Industry. MC Bano (Tapiwa Mudyanadzo) a leading Master of Ceremonies, found himself supplementing his income through road shows for Non-Governmental Organisations.

Still others decided to innovate ground-breaking products. Nyasha Gurure (producer of that exquisite Wedding Magazine Svitsa) designed an innovative bride portrait which is unlike any other the industry has ever seen. Made from precious minerals the portrait is meant to depict movement from an ordinary life to a precious life. Brilliant stuff !!!

Innovation in the food industry

As a foodie I am always on the lookout for innovative culinary ideas. We all know Lydia Tanyanyiwa as the managing director of Minerva Risk Advisors. But behind that powerful corporate exterior lies a creative streak. A quest to find a unique birthday gift for a friend, led her to partner with Continental Meats and create what I believe is one of the culinary delights of the century, the delectable “Biltong Cake”.

For us “carnivores” this “culinary delight’ comes in the form of a cake, with different types of biltong meat expertly arranged in cake form. Tanyanyiwa has since cascaded this creation as year-end presents to her clients. I will strongly recommend this chewy delight to anyone with a carnivorous streak like me. Well done and please patent it. Thank you!!

Still in the food industry, Rumbidzai Mukori, an uprising nutritionist “to watch” in the next 5 years has created the African inspired “Chinyakare” diet which is shaking the diet industry with its traditional inspired delicious ensembles. This diet helps you to live healthy while enjoying our African cuisine. After trying banting, the mediterranean and the blood type, I cannot wait to get my hands on this one. I swear it will by my last.

In addition, rumblings from Mabvuku are telling me that there is baobab jam that was produced by some dear old ladies while I have it in good authority that Kudzi Munjanja has created a diabetic cake. Yours Truly is on it and will update you on those delightful creations.

An international investor disrupting the mining industry

Boikanyo Group is a global concern with interests stretching across Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The group has concerns in infrastructural projects, renewable energy and other interests. In Zimbabwe, the group is in the mining sector. However, what sets this investor apart is its emphasis on developing women in mining. At last!!! To really appreciate the importance of this company’s vision lets look at a few statistics.

Bloomberg estimates that, the proportion of women employed by mining companies is at around 15,7 percent. Sadly, the numbers are worse at management levels.

Only one in 20 global firms is headed by a woman. Globally, the mining industry has the lowest proportion of women on its boards of all industries, with women occupying only 5 percent of the board positions of the top 500 global listed mining companies according to the Mining for Talent report by Women in Mining and Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

However, research has shown that boards that have a high percentage of women irrevocably influence high sales. In addition, research by Women in Mining have shown that, “female board representation in business indicated higher returns on sales, equity and invested capital”. Hopefully mining houses will follow suit and stop treating the mining sector as a “testosterone enclave” for men. Well done Boikanyo Group.

That African Free Continental

TradeArea (AFCFTA)

Opportunities abound within our continent and the AFCFTA is a refreshing development towards increasing free trade in Arica especially to women. According to the World Bank (AfCFTA) “presents a major opportunity for African countries to bring 30 million people out of extreme poverty and to raise the incomes of 68 million others who live on less than $5,50 per day.” The institution also predicts that, trade facilitation measures that cut red tape and simplify customs procedures would drive $292 billion of the $450 billion in potential income gains.

We have seen how continental bodies such as the European Union (EU) and the Association of South Eastern Asian Nations (ASEAN) have removed trade barriers to empower their people. The “Asia at 50” reports that; “The ASEAN Member States (AMSs) have transitioned from being largely exporters of primary products into regional and global exporters of commodities, manufactures, and services.”

The rise of a business networker per excellence

I am sure most readers will agree that no one has escaped being in one of Sandra Kawodza’s numerous WhatsApp groups. Sandra Kawodza, owner at Eclipse is known for being an astute recruiter, but has expanded her repertoire to include the most well run business WhatsApp groups. From rabbit rearing groups to solar and refrigeration matters, Sandra’s business groups span across sectors, cities and international lines. We even have a Malawian group. Simply speaking Kawodza has a group for everyone. She has demonstrated that information should never be difficult to find.

Interesting things happening

in the agricultural sector

That “Pfumvudza” concept has me all very excited. Basically, the concept is a welcome agricultural innovation, which will avoid wastage and increase maximum output on small pieces of land. In addition, thanks to Covid-19, urbanites have learnt the art of maximising land usage to produce crops for sale.

Zimbabweans who passionately

love their country

My last business pick is a man whom I have come to admire. Mr Cyprian Kachisa is a “treasure-trove” to the Zimbabwean mining industry. Now retired this “mining giant” has worked for major mining concerns such as AngloGold and Rio Gold. Kachisa is on a mission to ensure that artisanal miners practice best mining methods.

In so doing they gain maximum output from their efforts and in the same breadth conserve the environment. To this end, Kachisa traverses the country to a large extent using his resources to use his vast mining experience to train these miners. Well done Cyprian Kachisa.

I will end this article with a quote from Rahm Emmanuel, “Never let a serious crisis go to waste”.

Josline Sithole is a business development consultant and founder of Southern Africa Development Consultants. Contact her on 073634062.