Techzim Podcast

Episode Notes On this episode of Technikari, I was joined by Norman Moyo the CEO of the Econet Group subsidiary that Strive Masiyiwa said would be bigger than Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Econet Wireless - Distributed Power Africa (DPA). We discussed the state of power generation in Africa with a particular focus on the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and the shortfalls in power production that have been a feature of the last two decades and how that relates to Independent Power Producers (IPPs). We also covered: Why Independent Power Producers, like DPA, are only installing solar at mines and factories. The equity deal DPA has with France's national power company EDF. ZESA's strength is the transmission infrastructure it has, they should leverage that and let private players generate electricity. The legacy debt and other problems plaguing ZESA and its African counterparts. ZESA is importing expensive electricity and selling it to customers at a discount. This is unsustainable... The US$100 Billion for renewable energy fund that Zimbabwe and Africa are missing out on. Will DPA meet the ambition that Strive Masiyiwa has for it? Nuclear power is too far off for Africa. We have the sun, let's use it. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes The recent policy measures that were put in place by the government left many scratching their heads as to what is going on in Zimbabwe. The most confusing one of them all was the banning of credit which was overturned, but not as loudly as loans were banned. To get stuck into the immediate and future effects of new policies (those that remain), we were joined on this episode of Technikari by a peerless economic mind, a man who needs no introduction, the one and only King Kandoro. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes On this episode of Technikari, I was joined by one of the best sportscasting duos out there, Barry Manandi and Mike Madoda. I am sure all of you have heard their voices over the radio or seen them on TV and I had the pleasure of picking their brains about what football was as a young fan before the advent of social media. It was a different world back then and they shared their experiences from those days that I can only imagine were in black and white. "Dynamos would play Highlanders on a Sunday and if you were from our background, I come from a rural background, you would be getting the Parade Magazine that would come out a month later and you'd still be keen on the story. Even though the game was played three weeks ago it will have the pictures and the centre spread of the winning team" - Mike This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes I was joined by Sherman Baloyi who is the Creative Director at OnaDsgn, a local brand strategy firm to go over why international companies spend thousands to even millions of dollars on their brand/branding or unique identity. The conversation covers how logos have become more than just "we do this" to an embodiment of the greater ideal or goal an organisation strives for. The easiest example that comes to mind is how cleverly the Amazon logo was designed to show that they will take anything from A to Z. It's subtleties like this that are sometimes lacking in Zimbabwe and Sherman gave me the lay of the land locally. On top of that, he shed light on which startups/companies have excelled at creating a distinct brand and those that have fallen short of the mark. TECHZIM'S MARKET APP HAS BEEN ZERO-RATED, NOW YOU DON'T NEED DATA TO BUY NETONE, TELECEL AIRTIME WITH MONEY IN YOUR ECOCASH. YOU CAN ALSO BUY NYARADZO POLICIES, TELONE PACKAGES AND MORE. CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE APP - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.techzim.marketplace&hl=en&gl=US This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes On this episode of Technikari, I was joined by Privilege Nyauta, the founder and CEO of a local web hosting service called PnrHost which has a subsidiary called Resellme, a platform that allows anyone to sell domains and web hosting to businesses and individuals. The latter is the more interesting product, in my opinion, because it fits with the digital migration we have seen over the last couple of pandemic hit years. Everyone wants to go online and set up a store, or a virtual presence for their business. According to Privilege, Resellme already has over 1000 agents who are selling domains to their clients. So to find out more about it we went over the benefits and drawbacks of the platform, how someone can get onboard as well as what lies in the future. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Takudzwa Nhongo in 2017, went about trying to find the problem with education in Zimbabwe. In the year prior the ZIMSEC pass rate was 29.96%. To find out what was going wrong, Takudzwa applied to write 18 subjects for his O-Levels and came out of that with 16 A's and 2 B's. This was quite a remarkable feat and to achieve it he developed study techniques/models that he has implemented in the e-learning app he co-founded called Kytte.

Episode Notes On this episode of Technikari, we were joined by Dream VC cofounder Mark Kleyner. We talked about venture capital, angel investing and all things funding. Mark and Dream VC are not your typical VC outfit. Unlike those you know, their focus is on Africa, just like Transsion. Mark shares his view on the good, the bad and the ugly of the venture capital industry in Africa. For example, you have heard that in the last decade, over 75% of the African startups that received funding had no black cofounder. We discuss what's going on there and more. What Mark and Dream VC are doing in this space is unique. Dream VC is an investor accelerator, meaning they are producing venture capitalists and Mark explains exactly what that means and how you, yes you, could be a part of this. Why should foreign investors enjoy all the benefits when African startups like Flutterwave succeed? Dream VC seeks to produce African investors who invest in African startups to change that.

Episode Notes On this episode, I was joined by Peter Kaunda the Patron of the Arts at Artillery Gallery in Harare. He shared his experiences in the art scene in Zimbabwe on the business side, the art subscription services Artillery recently launched as well as the struggles of authentication, verification and insurance of art in Zimbabwe. You can visit the Artillery Gallery at 72 Second Street Extension, Golden Stairs Nursery, Harare, Zimbabwe and you can also check out their Instagram @artillerytheartgallery TECHZIM'S MARKET APP HAS BEEN ZERO-RATED, NOW YOU DON'T NEED DATA TO BUY NETONE, TELECEL AIRTIME WITH MONEY IN YOUR ECOCASH. YOU CAN ALSO BUY NYARADZO POLICIES, TELONE PACKAGES AND MORE. CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE APP - techzim.co.zw/download-techzim-app/

Episode Notes On this episode of Technikari, we were joined by @Magamba TV co-founder Comrade Fatso to talk about the Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) Bill that seeks to regulate Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Zimbabwe. Magamba has been one of the few content companies that have come to strongly oppose the PVO bill and for good reason because the organisation is an NGO or as they are calling them these days Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). We explored: What the PVO Bill is Why Magamba and others are dead set on pushing back on the bill and how it affects their operations How this will affect startups in Magamba's sphere and the programmes the organization holds in journalism and other fields The wider impact of the PVO bills on other NGOs and the work that they do. TECHZIM'S MARKET APP HAS BEEN ZERO-RATED, NOW YOU DON'T NEED DATA TO BUY NETONE, TELECEL AIRTIME WITH MONEY IN YOUR ECOCASH. YOU CAN ALSO BUY NYARADZO POLICIES, TELONE PACKAGES AND MORE. CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE APP - techzim.co.zw/download-techzim-app/ You can download the PVO Bill with the link here... Find out more at http://www.techzim.co.zw This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Last week NetOne announced a price adjustment for its OneFi packages that would have seen 80GB going for ZWL$99,000 which was US$800 at the auction rate. After a day-long public outcry, the state-owned mobile network operator saw the light and reduced the prices to a more realistic range. It was one of the rare instances where social media pressure, forced a state-run company to recant and put things right. TECHZIM'S MARKET APP HAS BEEN ZERO-RATED, NOW YOU DON'T NEED DATA TO BUY NETONE, TELECEL AIRTIME WITH MONEY IN YOUR ECOCASH. YOU CAN ALSO BUY NYARADZO POLICIES, TELONE PACKAGES AND MORE. CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE APP - https://www.techzim.co.zw/download-techzim-app/ $99,000 for 80 GB?! NetOne's new data prices (February 2022) - https://www.techzim.co.zw/2022/02/99000-for-80-gb-netones-new-data-prices-february-2022/ US$800 for 80GB, NetOne's new One Fi prices are killing its MiFi use case - https://www.techzim.co.zw/2022/02/us800-for-80gb-netones-new-one-fi-prices-are-killing-its-mifi-use-case/ Netone reverses price hikes after public outcry. How much should they charge? - https://www.techzim.co.zw/2022/02/netone-reverses-price-hikes-after-public-outcry-what-should-they-charge/ Find out more at http://www.techzim.co.zw This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Brand identity/branding has long since been a cornerstone of any company or collective. If your potential customer can't distinguish you from a competitor or make you out at all, then sustainability is going to be difficult. This not only speaks to your logo or commercials but also of your internal branding as well as your products and services. To get a picture of what it takes to stand out as a brand or company I was joined by John and Elizabeth Murinye who are the founders of Zarura, a local brand strategy firm. They have worked with companies like Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, Irish fintech firm Billout, Gomba Educare and many others. We explored the concepts of brand strategy, visual design and aesthetics as well as what makes a brand memorable. You can check out some of Zarura's work with the link below: Branding your startup Zarura Rebranding Zimbabwe TelOne Branding Rethink Rethinking ZTN Techzim's market app has been zero-rated meaning you don't need data to buy NetOne airtime and data bundles with money from your EcoCash wallet, or pay for DStv via ZIPIT and many other services. Download the Techzim Market App with the links below: https://techzim.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/techzim-market-1.9.6.apk… https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.techzim.marketplace&hl=en&gl=US Find out more at http://www.techzim.co.zw

Episode Notes This evening (14/02/2022) we held a Twitter Space to talk about the 10% Excise Duty or Tax that will be levied on internet packages and VOIP services. The news was communicated by ZOL Zimbabwe in an email to customers and we were joined by our community on Twitter to go over it. Find out more at http://www.techzim.co.zw

Episode Notes Takudzwa Shamhu is a local developer who works for Pleo, a Danish fintech firm that creates solutions to manage business expenses. We recently had a chat with him about his very interesting journey from working at Telco after graduating to ending up in Europe. Oh... and how he built Wa-Faya's app in just six months. He shared also shared some of the lessons he learned from his journey and how Zimbabwean developers can take advantage of international opportunities. Find out more at http://www.techzim.co.zw

Episode Notes Zimbabwean inventor Maxwell Chikumbutso has reportedly created a radio-frequency powered television. This means that there is no power cable and the TV is powered purely by radio waves similar to WiFi and Bluetooth. > Maxwell Chikumbutso via The Herald > "With an RF-powered generator embedded on a TV set, it is now possible for many people to enjoy watching TV whilst they are off-grid. For me, this started off as a dream in 2003, but today it's now a reality. We have successfully developed a solution that powers televisions, smartphones, laptop computers, fridges just to name a few. > "Goodbye to electric wired home appliances. Welcome to the future with the world's first Free Energy powered 55" UHD Samsung TV. The dawn of wireless self-powered gadgets is here!" The concept isn't new because Samsung debuted a radio-frequency powered TV remote at CES 2022 which also has a small solar panel on the back. However, what Maxwell Chikumbutso has done, if true, could mean that conventional electrical infrastructure is a thing of the past because it will all be antenna arrays. TVs, smartphones and all other devices will be radio frequency powered But is this even possible? Maxwell Chikumbutso of Saith Technologies is back – Claims generator powers 10 houses at once Cover Image Credit: The Herald This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes I was joined Uk-based comedian Mukudzei "King" Kandoro Majoni to talk about his recently concluded stand up tour the Prodigal Son. We also talked about, the rigours of life in Zimbabwe, how his diaspora experience is going, stealing twenty-five dollars that were meant for school fees and more. Intro Track: Bensound The site is Bensound.com This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) recently released its sector performance report for Q3 2021 and yet again data is king in the country with usage continuing on the up because of the pandemic. However in saying that, the quality of data has been iffy for a very long time because there are more of us who are using base stations that might be at capacity. We talked about the state of data in Zimbabwe and how the government can make it easier for mobile network operators, who are suffering losses, to be able to meet the demand for mobile internet services. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Buying a second-hand car in Zimbabwe is a game of Russian roulette because good looking cars are sometimes on their last legs and the bad ones... well... We took a dive into the second-hand car market on Facebook, car sales and imports, and the different buying habits of the various tax brackets. Additionally, we looked at preserving value for your safety and to sell on as well as how ZUPCO pretty much forced us all to need a car. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Today I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Michael Sibanda or I am sure most of you would know him by his TikTok handle @PabloZW1. He is one of the funniest guys online and it's no surprise that he has garnered 23.5K followers on TikTok since his first post in August. Check out his social media with handles below: TikTok: @pablozw1 Instagram: @Pablo_zw1 Twitter: @Pablozw1 YouTube: youtu.be/dmTylzcjnNk This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes The e-passport rollout is so confusing. When should we start applying for them? What about those who got regular passports recently? Why should we have to pay at CBZ and then at the Passport office? Is this another one of those things that is only being done because we are getting into election season? If the government was struggling with conventional passports do we have the materials and suppliers to meet the tsunami applications for these new and complicated e-passports? We tried to make sense of these questions and more... You should also check out: https://www.techzim.co.zw/2021/12/everything-you-need-to-know-about-zims-new-e-passport/ https://www.techzim.co.zw/2021/12/why-does-cbz-have-a-monopoly-on-e-passport-application-fees/ This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Owning a car in Zim is a bit of an extreme sport. There are no easy breaks because importing one can be a nightmare and getting one locally comes at a ridiculous premium. After getting your car you'll have to contend with the cost of that first service. This can be a pleasurable experience if the previous owner met all the service intervals or a money pit if they treated the car like a disposable asset. Once on the road, you'll have to contend with mushikashikas and Honda Fit drivers who think the road belongs to them. These specimens usually create lanes where none exist as if everyone who is in the traffic jam is somehow stupid. The only reason traffic is backed up is because road infrastructure was not developed to remain in step with the influx of vehicles. Furthermore, we have a near non-existent public transport system meaning that the only way to consistently get from A to B is by saving up and getting an Ex-Jap. On top of all of that, the roads themselves are so poorly maintained that everyone looks like they are warming their tires readying themselves for the F1 safety car to go back into the pits. We had a conversation about these topics and more with some prices and the likes on buying a "new to you" car, the cost to maintain it and even more pain points about owning a car in Zim. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Early last week we reviewed a US-based local startup called Imets. The company moved into the diaspora grocery remittance space and is akin to Instacart which basically means that you can shop through the isles of OK Zimbabwe, Spar and other local stores, in the diaspora, for your loved ones back home. Or if you are local looking to save time you can shop through the stores you know from the comfort of your home In either case, the groceries will be delivered. I had the pleasure of talking to Milton Shonai, the co-founder of Imets to know more about the startup as well as ask about: Business model comparisons with Instacart and how they are fitting that into the Zimbabwean context The growth that Imets has experienced since its launch Is Imets following the Instacart route of prioritising growth over profitability? Partnerships with local retail stores and their partner logistics firm, as well as the difficulties of that process The US$20/hr that drivers would get if the app went mainstream that the Techzim community were curious about. Driver and employee benefits as the company grows Plans for 2022 You can download Imets for yourself with the links below: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/imets/id1567736471 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imets Also, check out our review of the app and service with the link below: https://www.techzim.co.zw/2021/11/imets-is-zimbabwes-version-of-instacart-and-more/ This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Remittances or money transfers are big business these days, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were projections in early 2020 that forecasted a dip in remittances but the opposite was the case as saw last year Zimbabweans in the diaspora sent back US$1 billion which was a record sum. 2021 looks to be picking up where 2020 left off because according to the Mid Term Monetary Policy Statement remittances or money transfers to Zimbabwe were up 73% from the figure recorded during the same period in 2020. To find out more about the space we are joined by Matt Coquillon the founder of Mama Money. We discussed the origins and motivations of the company as well as Mama Money's longstanding relationship with Zimbabweans in the diaspora. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes We held a Twitter Space breaking down a study that was done by The Zimbabwe Blockchain Technology Think Tank called "Towards Virtual Asset Regulation and Adoption of Blockchain Technology in Zimbabwe's Context". The think tank itself comprised of Hon Advocate Fortune Chasi, MP Dr Solomon Guramatunhu, MBChB, Opththamology Dr Immaculate Motsi-Omoijiade, PHD (she/her) Cryptocurrency Prosper Mwedzi, M.Law (Hons), Solicitor (England and Wales) Twitter (@prosmoon) Kudzai Mubaiwa, B.Commerce Hons (Banking), Masters (Development Finance) Osmas Chiurunge, Software Engineer, B.Computing Norman Chimuka (Partner), Chimuka Mafunga Commercial Attorneys Tonderai Sena (Associate), Chimuka Mafunga Commercial Attorneys We were joined on the Space by members of The Zimbabwe Blockchain Technology Think Tank to discuss the study as well as go over the regulatory landscape, pain points for value preservation and entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe. Here is a recording of the space for all those who weren't able to be part of it as it happened. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Shelter or accommodation is one of those things that bring about anxiety. This could be in an existing property or if you are looking at moving to a new one. We have spoken at length about the local financial system, highlighting the quirks and deficiencies that are presently plaguing Zimbabweans. However, it's often easy to forget that the property market, be it residential or commercial, gets caught up in the ripples emanating from Zimbabwe's economic situation. To know about the changes and trends that have affected the local property market we were joined by Mark Conway from Propertybook. On top of that, we also discussed how Propertybook has been evolving and innovating to overcome the changes that it has felt in the market. https://www.propertybook.co.zw/ https://www.hararerentals.co.zw/ https://www.stands.co.zw/ https://www.otm.co.zw/ https://www.onshow.co.zw/ This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Earlier this year Shumba Money, a local remittance or money transfer startup, announced that it would be slashing fees for transactions to Zimbabwe. This wasn't something out of the ordinary because we had seen something similar from Senditoo last year. However, Shumba Money is a relatively young player in the game and we were curious about why/how they were able to do this. To answer this question and to get to know more about the business, we spoke to Shumba Money's founder, Andrew Dauramanzi. If you are looking to buy ZESA Tokens, airtime, NetOne data bundles with money in your EcoCash wallet and more. Dail *405#. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Gwinyai Nyatsoka is a Zimbabwean developer who made it big on Udemy a few years back. When he shared his earnings, the total came to around US$20K, since that time he has become the Chief Technical Officer at Cobbles, a US-based software development firm. I recently had a conversation with Gwinyai Nyastoka about his work even before he started teaching on Udemy. And he revealed that he has started a new course that will better equip local developers on how they can make the most of the increasing worldwide demand for coders. Links: https://gwinyai.com/course-detail https://github.com/Gwinyai https://medium.com/@gwinyai This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Wadiwa Wepamoyo Season 2 dropped today on Gateway Streams, the same platform that Jah Prayzah dropped his album exclusively a little while ago. And it looks like the problems that plagued the latter's rollout affected Wadiwa Wepamoyo but with the added dimension of video. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Yesterday, Zimbabwe's Drone expert Tawanda Chihambakwe pitched his ideas to ZESA and a delegation from Rwanda Energy. After the presentation, I had an opportunity to talk to Tawanda about the plans that he had going forward like manufacturing drones locally. We also talked about the problems that local startups have had in navigating Zimbabwe's very complicated operating environment. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Today I was joined by Simon Nyamuda, Managing Director of Compulink Systems. His, is an interesting journey of taking the reigns of a business at the tender age of 22 and leading the company forward. His remarkable work has not gone unnoticed as he was named IODz Young Director of the Year for 2019 and Outstanding Entrepreneurial Sales Executive at the Zimbabwe CEO Awards This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Last week we reported on EduXpert, a local e-learning startup that offers lessons for pre-primary all the way to trade schools and tertiary education. The platform does this by offering anyone with the skills and qualifications an avenue to monetise their knowledge and experience. On the students' side of things, they get to pick and rate the teachers on the platform. This means that tutors who have more effective teaching styles (for a given course) will rise to the top. In turn, forcing every other teacher and tutor to improve their own teaching and communication skills. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Panashe Mashungupa from EduXpert to know more about the site's current and future plans. EduXpert also launched a mobile application on the Google Play Store and you can check it out with the link here. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Sometimes the price of a product, service or experience is high because it's taken a lot of time to develop and perfect. This, of course, doesn't mean that there aren't a few crafty flea market vendors out there who'll rip you off. It's a mess but we tried to make sense of it through our experiences. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes This is a little belated because we are well past the halfway point of the year but the Technikari crew (Edwin, Rufaro and Valentine) went over their device and gadget acquisitions for 2021 thus far. You will also get a preview of the devices that Edwin will be reviewing soon and what he has made of them in the early phases of testing. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Chad Chawanda is a Zimbabwean entrepreneur who has a vested interest in a number of fields. He started out his business journey as a dropout, went into a panel beating business and then quickly pivoted to sales (local and regional) and digital marketing. Chad has a number of companies he is affiliated with namely ADvocado a digital marketing company that has worked with Chicken Hut, Coffee Republik, Last Mile and more. He is also involved in intra-Africa trade where he has traded in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). I recently got the opportunity to have a conversation with Chad to talk about the work that he has been doing in the tech and digital space where ADvocado is concerned. Chad Chawanda also has a podcast called SCIX Africa Trade Talks which you can check out with the link here. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Christopher Tsamba is a local animator who, through his company Mbasta Animation, got an animated show on ZBC TV. I recently had the pleasure of talking to him about the struggles of trying to make it as a content creator in Zimbabwe. As well as how he got his show on ZBC. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes I was joined yet again by Economist and former member of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's Monetary Policy Committee Eddie Cross to talk about financing a nation, tax collection and administration as well as electronic transactions This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes In 2012 and at the very young age of 14, Maud Chifamba became the youngest ever University of Zimbabwe student and tertiary education student in Southern Africa. I recently got the opportunity to have a chat with her to talk about her journey and experiences. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Last week we reported on a docuseries that would delve into the journey of Africa's first Karate World Champion Shihan Samson Muripo. The production was done by a local content platform called Yakontent with the backing of First Mutual Holdings Limited. To get more about the production I spoke to Tafadzwa Munyaradzi from Yakontent, Farayi Mangwende from First Mutual and the man himself Shihan Samson Muripo. You can watch the first episode of the Samson Muripo Docuseries with the link here. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Part two of our discussion on the benefits of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology is a more focused one. In this episode, we look at the use cases for the blockchain and cryptos that go beyond financial services. And I was joined yet again by Financial Services Lawyer and Blockchain Technology Analyst, Prosper Mwedzi. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Thumeza, is a local startup that offers financing to small scale logistics operators. It was recently named as one of the 10 finalists for the Telecel Group under its Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP) and Startupbootcamp Afritech US$750K accelerator along with another Zimbabwean startup called Dawa Health. I got the opportunity to "virtually" sit down with Thumeza's CEO and founder Gugulethu Siso to talk about the company, what it has been doing as well as its participation in the Telecel Group (ASIP) and Startupbootcamp Afritech Accelerator. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Today I was joined by the former member of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's Monetary Policy Committee, Eddie Cross. We explored the recently launched ZWL $50 note, the contrast in policy and environment from Rhodesia to present-day Zimbabwe. The forex auction system and if it has been a success, his current capacity in financial policymaking and the general outlook going forward. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Who remembers the days when you had to use a pen or pencil to rewind a cassette tape? They seem like a lifetime ago, and for good reason. The production and distribution of music in Zimbabwe (and the world over) has been liberalized to the point that anyone with a laptop can be a producer and artists. The shift has also seen the downfall of the power that record labels like Gramma Records and radio stations held over artists. In most cases, local radio stations are sourcing their music on WhatsApp and online, like everyone else. To talk more about the industry and how it has changed over the years I was joined by Plot Mhako a man who has deep roots in the local music industry. He is also the journalist who broke the NashTv contract leak that we reported on earlier this year. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Bitcoin and altcoin price fluctuation is a complex topic to get to the bottom of. There are a number of factors that influence their price. Some factors are apparent while others are in the realm of speculation. To shed light on what causes the dips and peaks in the price of Bitcoin we were joined by Financial Services Lawyer Prosper Mwedzi who if you remember is pushing a private cryptocurrency bill to get Zimbabwe legislation that supports alternative currencies. We also talked about how crypto adoption in Zimbabwe is being held back by the lack of interest from financial authorities like the RBZ. Blockchain Technology isn't only useful when it comes to money but has brought forth innovations like smart contracts and insurance that would be very useful in Zimbabwe. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes If you own a second-hand car imported from Japan (ex-Jap) then you know that you can't access certain radio frequencies in Zimbabwe. At best you can get two maybe three (depending on where you are) because the FM frequency in Japan is between 76 - 95 MHz. This led us down a rabbit hole of what decisions like the adoption of vehicles and other goods could have on the local ecosystem. We figured that the issue with ex-Jap cars has affected the listenership of certain radio stations that fall outside of the preset range. Also what it could mean for those stations when it comes to ad revenue because there are a lot of Ex-Jap cars on the road and many listeners will be bottlenecked into certain stations. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Late last week the Telecel Group and Startupbootcamp Afritech announced the finalists for its Africa wide accelerator. Among the chosen few is a Zimbabwean startup called Dawa Health, which offers antenatal care to expecting parents. Their field of interest is especially important because pregnancy-related deaths are caused by insufficient antenatal care. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), two-thirds of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable and antenatal care is a primary component. Furthermore, Sub-Saharan Africa and Sothern Asia accounted for 86% of maternal deaths worldwide in 2017. Dawa Health is stepping in by offering information through a chatbot, antenatal care kits, and has established a network of Community Health Agents to assist expecting mothers in remote areas. The was co-founded by Tafadzwa Munzwa and is operating in Zambia and we got a chance to speak to him. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) has reemerged from its long slumber. The last time ZUPCO had a presence anywhere near to what it has today was back in the late 90s early 2000s. And even though it is still working at a fraction of its capacity, the company still moves tens of thousands of people a day. Its slow rise has also been accompanied by innovations, a little while ago ZUPCO in conjunction with NMB and CBZ launched the tap card which was meant to ease the need for cash and change. ZUPCO recently followed that up with a partnership with Vaya which allows users to buy intercity bus tickets through the former's app. All this being said, its potential has not been reached, this is also considering the fact that the government killed the kombi industry just to facilitate its public transport arm. We thought we would take a dive into what ZUPCO has been up to and what opportunities it has missed, taken and ones that it is unaware of. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Yesterday we reported on the lack of coverage for USD deposits by the Deposit Protection Corporation _(DPC)_. And a lot of people weren't too surprised that this provision was not set by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and Ministry of Finance. While this gap exists in the banking sector, the Reserve Bank announced interest rates for savings deposits including USD. Yeah... if you were to tell anyone who isn't familiar with Zimbabwe that this is the way we exist they wouldn't believe you. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Microsoft is launching the next generation of Windows (11) operating system, tomorrow the 24th of June 2021. We browsed the internet to see what was being said about it and here are our thoughts... This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Itel has been the butt of many jokes for the longest time in Zimbabwe. Most of them have been all in good fun but others are a little malicious. It's good to remember that Transsion, the company that owns Itel, Tecno and Infinix, commands 37% of the smartphone market in Africa according to Counterpoint's research. The lion's share of that is Tecno with 18%, which places it in first place on the continent ahead of Samsung. Itel is in third place with 12% and Transsion's last property Infinix, is in fifth place with 7%. Now, that's three brands owned by one company in the top 10 of the African market. So how was Transsion able to achieve this and how did it design products to capture more than a third of a market? For reviews on Itel, Tecno and other smartphones brands, you can check out our YouTube channel with the link here. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes So earlier this week a German company called Amaetheon Agri was given a licence to grow Marijuana/Cannabis for scientific and medical use. This sparked an internal debate about the whole cannabis licence system in Zimbabwe. The fee is exclusionary by design and this is a bad thing because the govt and economy could be making a lot more money if there were tiered licences ranging from recreational and small scale growers all the way to commercial operations. Cannabis is after all a billion-dollar industry, valued at around US$20 billion and it is projected to grow to US$70.6 billion by the end of the decade. And another thing, why is there no growers licence for tobacco which is undoubtedly more harmful but there is one for cannabis which by comparison is not. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Earlier this week, Minister for Finance Mthuli Ncube said that Zimbabwe had a budget surplus of ZWL$9.8 billion in Q1 of 2021. A budget surplus is essentially the government making more money from income like taxes and the likes than it is spending. Now there are many ways to interpret this especially with COVID-19 being an inescapable reality both on its impact on business and how it should influence government spending. Link to ZIMRA's Q1 2021 report is in the link here This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Huawei's Harmony OS has been in the works for some time. Murmurs of the iOS and Android competitor date back to the mid-2010s and its imminent arrival will be a welcome addition to the smartphone and appliance market. However with Huawei's app gallery light on apps and it being outside the well known Android and iOS duopoly does it stand a chance outside the Chinese market? You should also check out: Our resident Huawei fanboy Edwin recently did a review of the Chinese device maker's G2 smartwatch you can check that out in the link here. If you want to hear what Edwin thinks of the Harmony OS outside our interrogation you can check out his latest video with the link here. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.