Lifestyle

Prior to StarLink entry, Zimbabwe had one of the most expensive data packages if not the most expensive in the world. While the introduction of StarLink might have resulted in changes the problem is still not yet resolved. Some giants like Econet were forced to innovate, coming up with SmartBiz to counter the StarLink threat. While StarLink monthly pricing is cheap, well there Kit to get started has a steep price tag which most Zimbabweans can’t afford in one go, that’s why most Zimbabweans have failed to crossover. But StarLink now offers these Kits for free in Zimbabwe and DRC just like how it has done in several European countries but to get a free kit you have to commit to a 12 month subscription plan. So here is all you need to know.

You might be planning on buying a laptop or might not be at the moment but it’s undeniable computers have become a huge part of our lives and sooner or later you will need one. But buying one is not an easy decision with lots of factors to consider from purpose to budget, we are gonna let you worry about budget but we are going to help you with the technical side of things so that you will make an informed decision and have valid reasons on why you opt for a certain choice. There's Intel and AMD on the x86 side, with Apple and Qualcomm making Arm-based processors on the other. We break down the advantages and drawbacks of each to help you pick the right chip for your needs and budget.

It all starts with a dream and a vision to have a place you call your own, without having to actually worry about monthly rentals or bothersome landlords who can be sometimes too demanding. That pursuit for freedom leads you to deciding on building your own house and you would need a place to build your dream home and that’s where the councils in every city and rurals come in, to sell you the stand to build on. With the instability of our economy, well things don’t go according to plan, you may have the money to buy the stand but you may soon realise you don't earn enough to build a house and the law doesn’t permit resale of undeveloped stands unless you are a licensed developer. If you don’t develop for a certain period your land gets taken without compensation, let’s delve in to what really goes on.

While Zimbabwe might have been slow in embracing the current technology, it’s evident the digital platforms are here to stay and lately we have been trying to keep up. Last year we saw the introduction of electronic case management system for courts then followed by the more recent Border Management System with the latter greatly reducing waiting times on airports and borders. Now it seems a new sector is going to see this digital transformation. In this piece we are going to take a closer look into Validation of Title Deeds Under the New Deed Registries Regulations, 2025 (SI 76 of 2025). It was long overdue but better late than never right?, Zimbabwe has now introduced digital title deeds under new 2025 property law. So how does this really work.

Scams have come in many forms or shape in Zimbabwe, from the infamous E-Creator pyramid scheme that duped millions of their hard earned cash to Metamax and more. There is always a new thing on the block so it’s always advisable to be vigilant and stay up-to date with the latest. Recently a new scam has taken Harare by storm with con artists masquerading as H-Metro journalists and blackmailing people which included a legislator - demanding payments to ensure they don’t publish sensational stories of those targeted individuals. Organised crime is not a new thing but it has evolved in recent times. This new group seems to be targeting influential individuals but no one is off limits for them so how exactly are they doing it.

The infamous CrowdStrike fiasco which caused millions of computers worldwide to crash is still fresh on our minds, so we might be forgiven for being skeptical since we depend on our PCs for work, entertainment and other purposes as well. The latest issue was from Microsoft itself with Microsoft confirming the mistake before stating it had been fixed only to find out that the supposed update to fix the issue hadn’t. Although the latest bug is not like the CrowdStrike issue, let me just say this if you have important documents back them up now just to stay on the safe side. Microsoft apologized for any inconvenience or confusion after mistakenly claiming an awkward Windows update issue had been fixed. Well newsflash, It hadn’t been fixed and has now gotten worse.

By now it’s safe to say StarLink has disrupted the markets sending ISPs into panic mode, much to the delight of internet users in every country it has been introduced to. From offering fast internet with cheaper subscription plans albeit a bit higher cost for equipment but frankly that will even out with time when you compare the data costs. Now re-imagine that StatLink technology but this time without the need for the kit, now some Smartphones can now connect directly with satellites with T-Mobile leading the charge. Now that direct-to-cell technology has graced us could this signal the end of traditional telecommunications companies? With carriers constantly updating their satellite phone plans, here's all you need to know about satellite connectivity in Smartphones phones, whether your phone has it and what "satellite optimized" means.

For the past few years, EcoCash has been introducing new wallets to cope with the times and market demands from introducing USD wallets, merchants, diaspora wallets to even virtual cards. Now EcoCash has launched a special wallet designed specifically for small and medium businesses, vendors, and service providers that in reality account for over 60% of the country’s economy. Dubbed EcoCash Plus, the company said the new product addresses the day-to-day operational needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), by enabling them to transact, pay bills, manage payroll, and access business records, all through their mobile phones. This surely is a good move to help small businesses navigate the complexities of operating in an unstable economy. Let’s delve deep.

Just like any asset, cars have rigorous procedures from registrations and licensing fees. Up until now all these procedures were not really available in plain sight for everyone to understand. There is a lot of fees involved in buying a car, it doesn’t end when you purchase the vehicle, there duty, licenses, and more. So what if you bought a car from someone else, well in this case you have to change ownership of the vehicle to legally complete the sale or purchase. To change ownership, you have to follow certain procedures and pay certain fees which what we will look at according to the Ministry.

Gone are the days where most of the processes and procedures were done manually, now almost everything you can think of is now automated with the use of systems and AI. While Zimbabwe maybe be considerably late to the party, we eventually get there one way or the other with the latest sector seeing the shift in technology is the border and customs. Zimbabwe’s Online Border Management System (OBMS) is now fully operational, kicking off an era of digitised immigration services that allows travellers to apply for visas and complete border procedures online.

Network disruptions have always been normal as maintenance and system upgrades have been done occasionally. This usually takes a few hours, a day or two but lately Econet has been in a major dilemma with the latest disruption. Econet Wireless, is battling to maintain reliable network services amid mounting customer frustrations and increasing competition from Elon Musk’s Starlink. So here is all you need to know and how it impacts everyone Econet user out there.

With the worsening electricity situation in Zimbabwe, we have seen a sharp surge in solar systems uptake in Zimbabwe. Many Zimbabweans have resorted to solar energy to power their homes as most of the times we go for up to 15 hours without electricity, but it comes with a lot of safety issues most people are unaware of. Lithium batteries have become the preferred choice for home solar energy storage. However, improper installation or usage can lead to safety risks, including thermal runaway and fire hazards. So we are going to explore which technology is best and safe from the solar panels to the batteries in the solar setup.