Blog #Zimbabwe

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.

It’s no secret that most if not all Zimbabweans have little to no trust in the banking sector in Zimbabwe and for good reason. Political instability, policy changes and currency volatility have been all major factors contributing to loss of trust in the banking system with all these issues greatly affecting our currency and economic landscape. Most people are skeptical of banking their because of these inconsistencies and loss of trust in the system. So what we are going to look at what exactly happens to customers when a bank closes in Zimbabwe for whatever reason and we will be looking at how previous failed banks were handled.

By now it’s common knowledge that electricity has been a major problem in Zimbabwe. In recent times the problem seems to be getting worse with no end in sight, Zimbabweans have now resorted to alternative solutions for electricity generation with solar being top of the list. Solar energy is gaining popularity as a renewable power source for homes and businesses worldwide but it is gaining different kind of traction in Zimbabwe as Zesa becomes more and more unreliable. At the heart of this technology are solar panels, which come in four distinct varieties, each with unique characteristics and applications so take a minute to learn exactly which type you should buy so you make an informed decision.

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.

The inevitable arrival of Starlink brought about drastic changes to the Zimbabwe telecommunications industry and the Zimbabwean internet landscape as a whole, much to the delight of consumers because more competition means more options and less prices. While the introduction of Starlink garnered significant attention, another development has been quietly unfolding: the emergence of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). Zimbabwe has been licensing more private entities from energy to telecommunications, Among these, Tagtel Communications has positioned itself as a popular contender by providing more affordable alternatives. So what should consumers know?

Similarly, in purpose context with Apple’s world wide developer conference, Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), held annually in Bulawayo, the country’s second-largest city, has long been a significant event in the southern African region consistently drawing attention from businesses and investors across the region and beyond. This year, the annual business showcase, one of the country’s largest trade events, is running from April 21 to April 26, 2025, under the theme “Industrialisation: Crafting an Integrated Landscape.” Dubbed the Blue Sapphire Edition, this year’s theme underscores the role of industrialisation in fostering economic transformation, investment and regional integration. It seeks to attract investors, open doors for entrepreneurs and businesses, both experienced and those new to the field. So what to expect this year?

Zimbabwe is planning a daring move to trace every mobile handset in the fight against cybercrime (allegedly). Zimbabwe’s telecommunications regulator is pushing for the creation of a nationwide database that can track and block stolen or illegal mobile phones in a move officials say will help combat rising cybercrime and protect digital financial transactions. But the big question is will it be the only reason of tracking the devices. When government tries to roll out such things we can’t help it but think of China and North Korea. Usually these always end up being misused by unlawfully tracking citizens or even censoring what is shared, effectively shutting down free speech and suppressing human rights. On the surface it would really useful in combating crime but we all know that, it will not be it’s only function. So what does this mean.

The Zimbabwean government has rolled out a simplified process for drivers to upgrade from the old blue paper licence to the new scannable plastic version, using WhatsApp as a primary communication tool. The Ministry of Transport has outlined a step-by-step guide for Zimbabwean drivers to make the switch, ensuring compliance with regional driving standards.

November 2022 saw Zimbabwe launch its very first space satellite into obit. This launch was managed by GK Launch Services as part of a commercial rideshare mission, lifting off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Amur Oblast. Zim plans to launch multiple satellites into orbit this year, including its third earth observation satellite, ZimSat-3, as part of ongoing efforts to harness space technology for national development. Like its predecessors, ZimSat-3 will enhance Zimbabwe’s capabilities in mineral exploration, environmental hazard monitoring, drought prediction and mapping human settlements.