Category: Podcasts
Zim inventor develops TV that doesn’t need a power cable, Is that even possible?
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. “With an RF-powered generator embedded on a TV set, it is now possible for many people to enjoy watching TV whilst they […]
Diaspora, Shurugwi, content creation & more with King Kandoro
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. You can listen to or download the […]
2021 the year of Statutory Instruments, smartphone tax, USD discounts & ZSE trading
As 2021 draws to a close we talked about the craziest things that happened over the year, like SI 127, SI 89, the US$50 smartphone tax, data prices and more. You can listen to or download the podcast with the link below. Alternatively, you get a copy by sending the message “podcast” to 0717 684 […]
Giving Econet & others tax breaks is one way mobile data quality can improve
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 […]
Spiderman No Way Home Review: Not as good as the hype suggests
Yesterday we went to watch the new Marvel blockbuster Spiderman No way Home and judging by the ticket queues, this is a movie that many wanted to watch. The film isn’t bad, far from it. It is a fun ride with plenty of surprises. However, there are some problems with the movie that are hard […]
Second-hand cars: ridiculous prices, preserving value, govt negligence & more
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 […]
@pablozw1, 23K followers on TikTok in 4 months. The man is an entertainer
Today I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Michael Sibanda or you might 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. You can listen to or download the […]
Zim’s e-passports: does the govt have enough material for the tsunami that is to come?
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 […]
Potholes, Honda Fit drivers, service fees & all the headaches of owning a car in Zim
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 […]
Local diaspora retail startup Imets cofounder gives more info on US$20/hr for drivers & more
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 […]
Mama Money: the social impact money transfer service
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 […]
Breaking down cryptos, potential regulation & opportunities in the Zimbabwean context
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 […]
The strange dynamics of Zim’s property market
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 […]
Gwinyai Nyatsoka: CTO for a US tech firm who wants to teach local devs how to do the same remotely
Gwinyai Nyatsoka is a Zimbabwean developer who made it big teaching 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 […]
Wadiwa Wepamoyo Season 2 on Gateway Streams, it’s Jah Prayzah all over again…
Wadiwa Wepamoyo Season 2 dropped today on Gateway Stream, 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. You can listen to or download the podcast with the link […]
Zim’s drone expert talks about manufacturing plans & problems with local operating environment
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 […]
Simon Nyamuda: Managing Director at 22, now Young Executive of the Year
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 […]
This local e-learning startup is aiming to replace brick & mortar schools
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 giving 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 […]
It’s probably expensive because it’s actually good value
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 […]
Gadgets & devices we have bought thus far in 2021
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 […]
Chad Chawanda: from panel beating to pan-African digital marketing
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, then quickly pivoted to trade (local and regional) and digital marketing. Chad has a number of companies he is affiliated with namely ADvocado a […]
Eddie Cross: Zim should have a 5% transaction tax, halve PAYE & no company tax
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 You can play or download the podcast with the link below. Alternatively, you can download the podcast on WhatsApp […]
Maud Chifamba: UZ’s youngest ever student at 14, now a Chartered Account
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. You can download or play the podcast with the link […]
Africa’s 1st karate world champion now has a docuseries & here’s more about it from the man himself
Last week we reported on a docuseries that would detail 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 on about the production I spoke to Tafadzwa Munyaradzi from Yakontent, Farayi […]
Eddie Cross: I’m excited about the Zim economy
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 […]
From cassettes to WhatsApp MP3s: How music distribution has evolved in Zimbabwe
Who remembers the days when you had to use a pen or pencil to rewind a cassette tape? It feels 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 […]
Bitcoin price fluctuations and how Zim is being lapped in the crypto adoption race
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 […]
Meet Dawa Health the startup fighting to reduce maternal mortality
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 […]
Deposit incentives but no protection for USD, the mess that is Zim’s monetary policy
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 that gap exists in the banking sector, the Reserve Bank announced interest […]
Windows 11: The good, the bad and the meh…
Microsoft is launching the next generation of the 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. You can play or download the podcast with the link below: NB: Techzim is now zero-rated for text-based content. However, for embedded […]