Zimbabwean Web Consumers are Special

Fellow Entrepreneurs, there is something unique about the Zimbabwean consumer, especially on the Internet. We are a nation that has been hit with various pressures – economic, social, spiritual and political. Each time I think about the hardships in our nation, I quickly remember those of USA in the late 1920s and early 30s – the Great Depression. When it ended, USA was never the same. They went into a boom, whose fruit is still being enjoyed to date. The 21st century USA could not have been, without the souls of the early 20th century, who helped transform the nation, by consuming the products and services.
There is something about consumers in times of hardships, especially those that stand firm. I believe that knowing that special thing about Zimbabwe consumers will assist you in building a successful website.

Literacy
Have you ever wondered why it is so easy for Zimbabweans to adapt to new technologies? Notice how mobile phones, computers, satellite equipment, and DVD equipment, have boomed without need for consumer education. Furthermore, have you noticed the number of SMEs who offer after sales services, such as repairs? In this same thought, Zimbabwean Web consumers are able to move in Cyberspace without much education. I noticed this in one Internet Café where I train new Web Consumers. We are taking college students and introducing them to the Internet. In a week, we have trained an average of seventy students, who are now frequenting the Internet Café. We conducted five minute introductory sessions, with batches of ten students each. Nine out of ten in each group had never used a computer before. They have become comfortable in Cyberspace. This is special.

Power of Migration
One of the characteristics of our modern day “Bantu” nation, inherited from its ancestors, is Migration orientation. The Bantu are able to move from one place to the next, carrying all their possession, and settling well in the new lands. Nomadic people have the ability to settle in new environments and quickly customise them to suite their needs.

Over the past six years, Zimbabwe has exported its citizens to all four corners of the earth. This means Zimbabwe is no longer limited to the physical borders we know, but has cluster communities in nations like England, USA, Australia, Canada, South Africa and so forth. As much as Zimbabwean consumers are based in England, their Bantu genes will cause them to crave for Zimbabwean content. There are many examples of thriving websites with Zimbabwean content; though most of it being news. These include websites like zimupdate.com, sadza.com, and zimnews.com, just to name a few.

Consider this: Why not promote and/or attract Zimbabwean immigrants in Cyberspace, who are physically located outside the borders of our nation by helping them migrate with your content? A good example would be the United Kingdom, which was nicknamed UK after “Unit K’ in Chitungwiza. This may not sound like an opportunity, but imagine if you could allure Zimbabwean Web Consumers in the United Kingdom, who will consume your information, linked to your products. Examples are given in the Examples.co.zw chapter.

Enterprising
Every adult in Zimbabwe has a personal business project, and/or is formulating yet another. If the web consumption market comprises of enterprising people, this means that they are very inquisitive, willing to learn, in search of opportunities, and patiently awaiting a chance to shine.

This is a good state, creating an enormous demand on content for commerce. What better platform to deliver such content than the Internet.