Category: Podcasts

  • Neria 2021: A welcome update for the modern age or unnecessary?

    Neria 2021: A welcome update for the modern age or unnecessary?

    A couple of days ago, a trailer dropped for a remake of the Zimbabwean classic Neria directed by Godwin Mawuru and written by Tsitsi Dangarembga in the early 90s. Now, remakes and reboots are things that we are accustomed to when it comes to Hollywood but for Zimbabwean cinema which still has a lot of stories to tell we decided to have a conversation on this new rendition of Neria to see if it’s a welcome update for the modern age or unnecessary.

    Play or download the podcast with the link below

    Neria 2021 trailer

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    Jabu’s Homecoming is now Zim’s first WhatsApp exclusive drama series. We got a chance to talk to the production’s PR Manager to hear all about what we are in store for.

    Zim’s first WhatsApp exclusive drama is going to be like a family Group Chat

    Zimswitch has become the focal point of the national payments system even more after it assumed the role as the nation switch. But why is company prioritising USD payments over local currency payments in this era of e-commerce?

    Zimswitch needs to strike a balance between ZWL & USD e-commerce

    Ever wondered what it takes to make a locally produced TV show or movie? We spoke to British I.T. Madzivanyika a local actor and filmmaker to find out.

    What does it take to make a locally produced film or series?

    We had a conversation with Aidan Gamble from Inclusive Access Zimbabwe about the digital divide that exists for people with disabilities in the country.

    The digital divide that exists in Zim for people with disabilities

  • Zim’s first WhatsApp exclusive drama is going to be like a family Group Chat

    Zim’s first WhatsApp exclusive drama is going to be like a family Group Chat

    Jabu’s Homecoming is set to be Zim’s first WhatsApp exclusive drama which will use voice notes, text, pictures and videos to tell a week-long story. The series which is the work of renowned filmmaker Ben Mahaka is set to hit phones tomorrow and I was curious to know what we are in for. The production’s Public Relations Manager, Tinashe Nyaruwanga said that it is going to be like being part of a family WhatsApp group.

    To hear more about Jabu’s Homecoming you can play or download the podcast with the link below.

    If you watch check out Zim’s first WhatsApp exclusive drama send hi to +263 719 900 790. Alternatively, you visit the show’s website with the link here.

    You should also check out

    Zimswitch has become the focal point of the national payments system even more after it assumed the role as the nation switch. But why is company prioritising USD payments over local currency payments in this era of e-commerce?

    Zimswitch needs to strike a balance between ZWL & USD e-commerce

    With interoptibility being a thing in Zimbabwe now, we thought we would many would give other mobile money services a try. However, according to the numbers EcoCash still reigns supreme but why?

    Why are you still using EcoCash?

    We had a conversation with Aidan Gamble from Inclusive Access Zimbabwe about the digital divide that exists for people with disabilities in the country.

    The digital divide that exists in Zim for people with disabilities

  • Why are you still using EcoCash?

    Why are you still using EcoCash?

    The question might sound strange because EcoCash is pretty an institution when it comes to payments in Zimbabwe. However, when it comes to issues like the cost of transactions, OneMoney and Telecash are far more reasonable than EcoCash.

    Furthermore, interoperability ushering in a new age in Zimbabwe. We thought that the public would dabble with the other mobile money operators. However, from POTRAZ’s reports, it looks like OneMoney (we will say nothing of Telecash) is not gaining ground on EcoCash as fast as we thought.

    Q3 2020Q4 2020Difference
    EcoCash5 425 1485 553 9811.9%
    OneMoney854 320936 4769.6%
    Telecash19 1985 222-72.8%
    Total6 325 6666 495 6822.7%

    Maybe that’s because many are now transacting out of their bank accounts to go around the ZWL$35 000 a week limit. Or that people are just content with EcoCash as a service and prefer the devil they know…

    This among many other things is something that we thought we should have a conversation about to gauge our stance on this new era of payments in Zimbabwe. You can play or download the podcast with the link below:

    You should also check out

    Zimswitch has become the focal point of the national payments system even more after it assumed the role as the nation switch. But why is company prioritising USD payments over local currency payments in this era of e-commerce?

    Zimswitch needs to strike a balance between ZWL & USD e-commerce

    We had a conversation with Aidan Gamble from Inclusive Access Zimbabwe about the digital divide that exists for people with disabilities in the country.

    The digital divide that exists in Zim for people with disabilities

  • PayPal merchant wallets allow you to receive money in Zim, so… now what?

    PayPal merchant wallets allow you to receive money in Zim, so… now what?

    Earlier today, we found out that you can receive money via Paypal in Zim if you open a merchant wallet. Now, there has been no confirmation from PayPal that this is a thing but it’s up and running so those who can make use of it probably will.

    In light of this, we decided to go over PayPal’s history in Zim, what this could mean if PayPal comes out and says that this official. And what this could potentially do for Zimbabwean businesses in the dollarisation 2.0 era.

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    Ever wondered what it takes to make a locally produced TV show or movie? We spoke to British I.T. Madzivanyika a local actor and filmmaker to find out.

    What does it take to make a locally produced film or series?

    Our conversation with Tendai Mupaso the co-founder of logistics startup Yaita. It had been a while since we touched base and we thought we’d talk about the business as well as their new product the Fulfilment Centre. The product is basically a warehouse where e-commerce businesses store their inventory.

    The biggest difference with a normal warehouse and what Yaita is doing, is that Yaita will handle delivery of those goods. Your customers can order through you but you don’t have to ship anything, all of that is done by Yaita.

    Yaita a delivery startup now looking to be the complete e-commerce business partner

    Marondera based produce exporter Nhimbe Fresh and its US$1.4 million, 1.9MW solar project with Sun Exchange.

    Nhimbe Fresh – Marondera set to be the largest solar crowd sale in Africa

    Lastly, we had a conversation with Aidan Gamble from Inclusive Access Zimbabwe about the digital divide that exists for people with disabilities in the country.

    The digital divide that exists in Zim for people with disabilities

  • Mortal Kombat 2021, offers little else beyond the violence

    Mortal Kombat 2021, offers little else beyond the violence

    Mortal Kombat is one of those franchises that when it comes out you have to check it out. However, in the current climate, the movie doesn’t exactly hit all the notes but if you are a fan of callbacks and violence you’ll probably like it. The Tisu Vanhu Vacho crew sat down to pick the movie apart and point out things that the movie did well.

  • The digital divide that exists in Zim for people with disabilities

    The digital divide that exists in Zim for people with disabilities

    Technology has been a “godsend” when it comes to making our lives easier and more comfortable. Over the years it has allowed us to more than we could before at an exponential rate. You can order goods and services online, complete complex tasks with a device in your pocket and much more. With all this innovation there has been one group that has been left behind in the tech boom in Zimbabwe. People with disabilities haven’t had a fair go of it when it comes to joining in on all technology has to offer.

    This has been made all the more worse in the country by the rapid acceleration of the digital age due to the pandemic. To understand exactly what needs to be done and what has been accomplished in this respect we spoke to Aidan Gamble from Inclusive Access Zimbabwe which is an organisation that seeks to reduce the technology divide in the country through workshops and more recently a device donation drive that the company will load the appropriate software to aid people with disabilities in Zimbabwe gain greater access to the internet.

    Inclusive Access Zimbabwe is currently running a donation drive for devices that ends on the 7th of May 2021. The startup is also looking for anyone who might want to help them build a website that meets global inclusive standards.

    You can contact Inclusive Access Zimbabwe through the following details.

    You should also check out

    Ever wondered what it takes to make a locally produced TV show or movie? We spoke to British I.T. Madzivanyika a local actor and filmmaker to find out.

    What does it take to make a locally produced film or series?

    Marondera based produce exporter Nhimbe Fresh and its US$1.4 million, 1.9MW solar project with Sun Exchange.

    Nhimbe Fresh – Marondera set to be the largest solar crowd sale in Africa

    With the Bitcoin boom and slump attracting more people to trading the crypto, we had a sit down with crypto enthusiasts William Chui. He gave us a walkthrough of how trading is done in Zim and how you can spot scams.

    Bitcoin trading in Zimbabwe & how to spot scams

    Our conversation with Tendai Mupaso the co-founder of logistics startup Yaita. It had been a while since we touched base and we thought we’d talk about the business as well as their new product the Fulfilment Centre. The product is basically a warehouse where e-commerce businesses store their inventory.

    The biggest difference with a normal warehouse and what Yaita is doing, is that Yaita will handle delivery of those goods. Your customers can order through you but you don’t have to ship anything, all of that is done by Yaita.

    Yaita a delivery startup now looking to be the complete e-commerce business partner

  • Is it just us or did social media become more toxic during the pandemic?

    Is it just us or did social media become more toxic during the pandemic?

    On this episode of Tisu Vanhu Vacho, we are joined by Heart and Soul host and digital content creator Unique Zimuto to talk about how wild it has been on socials during the pandemic.

    Like all good conversations the more opinions the better. You can join in the conversation whether it’s on the comments section or on social media using the hashtag #tisuvanhuvacho.

  • What effect could Facebook, WhatsApp & Sasai have on Zim elections?

    What effect could Facebook, WhatsApp & Sasai have on Zim elections?

    Yesterday we attended a roundtable organised by Facebook Southern Africa on how the social media giant is trying to make the platform safe for people in Zim. The talk revolved around Facebook’s community standards, how the platform is fighting misinformation and Facebook’s role in protecting the integrity of elections.

    What struck us most from this event was that Facebook is now keenly aware of its role in elections not just in Europe and America but in Africa as well. The company was acutely aware of the elections happening in Zambia next year. Facebook representatives even said that they were engaging with stakeholders in Zambia concerning its elections.

    Facebook was also aware that Zim will be heading into elections in 2023. All of this is strange because big tech has never paid too much attention to what was happening politically in Africa.

    But then we realised that Facebook was at the centre of an election scandal in the United States. If you remember back in 2016 the company was embroiled in the whole Cambridge Analytica affair. It also went on to be a big part of the US elections that were held last year.

    From what we were able to make out, Facebook now knows how its platform can be used and now wants to preempt anything in Africa with the lessons it has learned from abroad.

    In this episode we talk about:

    • What is misinformation?
    • How users can report things that they see on the platform as misinformation.
    • The power that social media companies like Facebook have in the modern political arena especially regarding elections.
    • Being private entities what gives them the right to deem this or that misinformation.
    • Why Facebook hasn’t crafted a bespoke approach to dealing with issues in each individual African country.
    • Content creators and publications play a big role in information dissemination. Is Facebook, and its family of apps (mainly WhatsApp), addressing the problems content creators in Zim have with its policies.
    • And lastly shouldn’t Sasai be positioning itself to play a bigger role so we aren’t so reliant on Big Tech?

    After the roundtable, Facebook was kind enough to offer us links to resources that you can use to stop the spread of misinformation in all its forms. The information includes how you can report something that you feel is fake news/misinformation and resource centres to fact check anything that you deem suspicious.

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    FarmHut CEO, Ryan Katayi stopped by to talk about the US$100K the startup recieved from the Hult Prize Foundation.

    US$100K backed local agritech startup sets its sights on expansion

    Deutsch Connect CEO, Kumbirai Chipadza gave us the ins and outs of how Zim startups can make it in Germany.

    Opportunities for Zim startups in Germany

    Fresh in a Box founder, Kuda Musasiwa walked us through the company’s new Software as a Service (SaaS) or e-commerce builder.

    Kuda Musasiwa is bullish about Fresh Ideas’ e-commerce platform

  • US$100K backed local agritech startup sets its sights on expansion

    US$100K backed local agritech startup sets its sights on expansion

    Last week we reported on a local agritech startup called FarmHut that had received backing to the tune of US$100K from the Hult Prize Foundation. FarmHut, which is primarily an e-commerce and consultancy operation, is looking to bring the estimated 70% of people in Zimbabwe who rely on subsistence farming closer to buyers and markets. In this episode, we were joined by the CEO of FarmHut, Ryan Katayi to talk more about how the startup started and what the future has in store.

    On top of Ryan Katayi and FarmHut’s journey we also discussed:

    • FarmHut’s subscription-based business model.
    • How smallholder farmers sign on to the service.
    • The proportion of urban-based vs rural-based smallholder farmers FarmHut has onboard.
    • Issues FarmHut has had with farmer verification for the platform.
    • Businesses and organisations that use FarmHut’s pool of farmers to access produce.
    • Other services that the agritech startup has beyond offering a market place.
    • The complicated issue of e-commerce in farming and logistics.
    • How FarmHut is addressing the connectivity issues of its rural client base.
    • The plans FarmHut has for the US$100K funding they received from the Hult Prize Foundation.

    You can check out FarmHut for yourself with the link here

    You should also check out

    If you are looking for an android keyboard that has a more comprehensive dictionary and offers predictive text for Shona, Ndebele and more. Check out the conversation we had with Bhala country director Njabulo Sandawana.

    African language app Bhala is looking to be more than just a keyboard

    E-commerce is on the rise and one of the big players in the industry Kuda Musasiwa is looking to give entrepreneurs and businesses a jump start through the Fresh Ideas Software as a Service (SaaS) or e-commerce builder.

    Kuda Musasiwa is bullish about Fresh Ideas’ e-commerce platform

    Access to partners, hubs, accelerators and potential backers are the things that make or break a burgeoning startup. It is often difficult for local startups to get an audience with people who could help further their ideas. However, there are companies out there that can help with this and one of them is DeutschConnect. We spoke to the CEO of the company, Kumbirai Chipadza about the opportunities for Zim Startups in Germany and Europe.

    Opportunities for Zim startups in Germany

  • Opportunities for Zim startups in Germany

    Opportunities for Zim startups in Germany

    DeutschConnect is an intermediary of sorts that connects Sub-Saharan startups with other startups, hubs and businesses in Germany and in Europe. The company works in tandem with Afrolynk which is the largest Afrocentric startup conference in Europe to bring together African startups with potential investors and other startups to collaborate with.

    We were joined by the CEO and founder of DeutschConnect Kumbirai Chipadza to discuss:

    • The founding of DeutschConnect
    • What it does to prepare startups from ideation all the way to investor readiness.
    • The things German and European investors look for when selecting a Zim or African startup.
    • The organisations, hubs and partners that DeutschConnect works with.
    • Opportunities beyond funding like registering a startup in Germany and how to study in Germany.

    DeutschConnect Partners – German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), AG Career Hub, Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, and Make it in Germany

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    Last week we spoke to Farai Mudzingwa aka Babyboy Gaming about professional gaming and content creation.

    Professional gaming & content creation need to be taken more seriously in Zim

    We also had a conversation with Dandemutande’s CEO Never Ncube about Utande’s new LTE service.

    Dandemutande CEO sheds more light on Utande LTE

    Sun Exchange CEO Abe Cambridge and Nhimbe Fresh CEO Edwin Moyo paid us a visit to talk about the largest crowdsourced Solar Project in Africa.

    Nhimbe Fresh – Marondera set to be the largest solar crowd sale in Africa

  • Otarkie co-founders want Zim e-commerce to thrive

    Otarkie co-founders want Zim e-commerce to thrive

    A couple of weeks ago we reported on an e-commerce builder called Otarkie. The platform offers anyone who wants to launch their business online the tools to do so. You can start off on a 14-day free trial and if their services are to your liking you can then shell out the US$180 a year for Otarkie. For that money, you get a bespoke website, payments and most importantly Otarkie’s logistics partners. To learn more about the service we are joined by the co-founders of the startup Brandon Musa and Tafadzwa Chamisa.

    You should also check out

    Last week we spoke to Farai Mudzingwa aka Babyboy Gaming about professional gaming and content creation.

    Professional gaming & content creation need to be taken more seriously in Zim

    We also had a conversation with Dandemutande’s CEO Never Ncube about Utande’s new LTE service.

    Dandemutande CEO sheds more light on Utande LTE

    Sun Exchange CEO Abe Cambridge and Nhimbe Fresh CEO Edwin Moyo paid us a visit to talk about the largest crowdsourced Solar Project in Africa.

    Nhimbe Fresh – Marondera set to be the largest solar crowd sale in Africa

  • Nhimbe Fresh – Marondera set to be the largest solar crowd sale in Africa

    Nhimbe Fresh – Marondera set to be the largest solar crowd sale in Africa

    Last November we reported on Sun Exchange, a South African peer-to-peer solar startup that launched its African expansion in Zimbabwe. The company allows anyone from anywhere in the world to buy solar cells in large projects it has commissioned and the upside is that you will earn money from the power generated. Nhimbe Fresh is a local fresh produce exporter and is the first beneficiary of this expansion. The proposed plant is going to total up to 1.9 MW and will be launched in three phases.

    The Sun Exchange Nhimbe Fresh crowd sale has garnered some serious attention and is set to be the largest solar crowd sale on the continent to date. To learn more about this we were joined by the CEO and founder of Sun Exchange Abe Cambridge as well as the CEO of Nhimbe Fresh Edwin Moyo.

    You can check out the crowd sale for Nhimbe Fresh with the link here. The sale is set to close on the 10th of March but might be extended because the goal is close to completion.

    You should also check out:

    Our conversation with Tendai Mupaso the co-founder of logistics startup Yaita. It had been a while since we touched base and we thought we’d talk about the business as well as their new product the Fulfilment Centre. The product is basically a warehouse where e-commerce businesses store their inventory.

    The biggest difference with a normal warehouse and what Yaita is doing, is that Yaita will handle delivery of those goods. Your customers can order through you but you don’t have to ship anything, all of that is done by Yaita.

    Yaita a delivery startup now looking to be the complete e-commerce business partner

    We also had a chat with Fresh Ideas founder Kuda Musasiwa. The startup is offering the tools for anyone or business that wants to start an e-commerce operation. There is, of course, a fee of US$99 a month but for that, you get payments intergrations, website design and more

    Kuda Musasiwa is bullish about Fresh Ideas’ e-commerce platform

    Lastly, we talked to Dandemutande CEO, Never Moyo about the recent launch of Utande LTE.

    Dandemutande CEO sheds more light on Utande LTE

  • Dandemutande CEO sheds more light on Utande LTE

    Dandemutande CEO sheds more light on Utande LTE

    Utande, a subsidiary of Dandemutande recently launched an LTE service to rival Telone’s Blaze and ZOL Wibroniks service. Utande LTE is launching with uncapped packages only, which puts it more in line with ZOL’s Business Packages.

    To find out more about the service, and to ask if there were capped packages in the near future. We were joined by Dandemutande’s CEO Never Ncube.

    On top of Utande’s LTE service we discussed:

    • The changes that Dandemutande has seen in the internet services market since its inception. (Afterall the internet has gone from being a luxury to a necessity.)
    • Why Utande went the LTE services route.
    • If/When Utande LTE will be launching capped or pay-as-you go style packages.
    • What the pandemic has done for Dandemutande/Utande’s business in terms of customer uptake and data consumption.
    • Residents in areas old and new have had issues with getting internet services. Was Utande LTE a way of improving access to the sprawling neighbourhoods as well as service existing ones.
    • Dandemutande has a number of services in its product catalogue, vehicle tracking, cloud services and e-learning. Is the company going to add on to these services in future?

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    Our conversation with Tendai Mupaso the co-founder of logistics startup Yaita. It had been a while since we touched base and we thought we’d talk about the business as well as their new product the Fulfilment Centre. The product is basically a warehouse where e-commerce businesses store their inventory.

    The biggest difference with a normal warehouse and what Yaita is doing, is that Yaita will handle delivery of those goods. Your customers can order through you but you don’t have to ship anything, all of that is done by Yaita.

    Yaita a delivery startup now looking to be the complete e-commerce business partner

    We also had a chat with Fresh Ideas founder Kuda Musasiwa. The startup is offering the tools for anyone or business that wants to start an e-commerce operation. There is, of course, a fee of US$99 a month but for that, you get payments intergrations, website design and more

    Kuda Musasiwa is bullish about Fresh Ideas’ e-commerce platform

    Lastly, with the buzz around Spotify we thought we would have a chat about all the the things we should expect the service to bring to Zimbabwe.

    Spotify coming to Zimbabwe, the good & the bad (mostly good)

  • Tisu Vanhu Vacho Ep 18: thoughts on Weed, addiction & trust

    Tisu Vanhu Vacho Ep 18: thoughts on Weed, addiction & trust

    Tisu vanhu vacho (Episode 18), vanhu vacho vapi? The people behind Techzim’s articles, videos and social media. Introducing the crew, we have our video wizard and Swiss Army knife – Edwin. Our social media manager who has been keeping things ticking on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – Shamie. Last but not least, Valentine writer and aspiring podcaster.

    The Podcast is a chance for all of us to share things that we find, interesting, noteworthy, controversial or all of the above. We all have differing opinions on a number of subjects and topics so we don’t always land on the page. But that’s the beauty of it, we get to disagree, and learn from one another.

    This podcast is an opportunity for us to interact with each other and with you about a range of issues.

    Tisu vanhu vacho episode 18

    The conversation started out with our thoughts on cannabis/marijuana/ weed. But like with all things we talk about we went down a few rabbit holes the biggest ones being the nature of addiction and trust.

    You should check out Switzerland’s drug assistance program with the link here. They have taken the unconventional approach of working around the issue by giving those addicted the substance while trying to find the root cause of their addiction.

    Like all good conversations the more opinions the better. You can join in the conversation whether it’s on the comments section or on social media using the hashtag #tisuvanhuvacho.

  • Kuda Musasiwa is bullish about Fresh Ideas’ e-commerce platform

    Kuda Musasiwa is bullish about Fresh Ideas’ e-commerce platform

    Fresh Ideas, the parent company of Fresh In A Box, Joey’s Pizza and Suprise In A Box recently launched an e-commerce business builder. The solution is a cheat code for entering online commerce.

    When I say cheat code I mean that you don’t have to find a developer to build a site and apps for you. Fresh Ideas make all those tools available including payments facilities with names like Paynow for local currency transactions. VISA, Mastercard & Paypal for forex payments with the backing of Stripe, ContiPay, and DPO.

    All of this tech isn’t free however, Fresh Ideas is charging US$99.00 a month for the basic packages with US$49.99 addons for stuff like iOS apps. To get more information about this platform we were joined by the founder of the company Kuda Musasiwa to go over it all in greater detail.

    You should also check out

    Our conversation with Tendai Mupaso the co-founder of logistics startup Yaita. It had been a while since we touched base and we thought we’d talk about the business as well as their new product the Fulfilment Centre. The product is basically a warehouse where e-commerce businesses store their inventory.

    The biggest difference with a normal warehouse and what Yaita is doing, is that Yaita will handle delivery of those goods. Your customers can order through you but you don’t have to ship anything, all of that is done by Yaita.

    Yaita a delivery startup now looking to be the complete e-commerce business partner

    Last week we continued our conversation with Simbarashe Mangena from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe. With questions on the viability of Nuclear Power generation in Zim on account of the emergence of solar and other alternatives in Africa.

    Technikari with Simba Mangena, Nuclear Engineer from RPAZ (part 2)

    Lastly, with the buzz around Spotify we thought we would have a chat about all the the things we should expect the service to bring to Zimbabwe.

    Spotify coming to Zimbabwe, the good & the bad (mostly good)

  • Yaita a delivery startup now looking to be the complete e-commerce business partner

    Yaita a delivery startup now looking to be the complete e-commerce business partner

    With e-commerce on the rise, there has been a significantly underreported part of the industry, which is logistics. It’s all well and good to have your products online but how do you send them to and fro? This is a massive headache for many e-commerce businesses, however, there are startups in the space with some interesting solutions. One of those startups is Yaita.

    Yaita is a logistics or order fulfilment business that has its offices in Harare and Bulawayo. The company offers a range of services including, of course, parcel delivery but they also do payments and a soon to be launched service called the Fulfilment Centre.

    The centre is basically a warehouse where an e-commerce business stores its products and Yaita will manage and deliver them as per order. To find out more about the Fulfilment Centre and Yaita since the article we wrote last year we were joined by the company’s co-founder and CEO Tendai Mupaso.

    You should also check out

    Last week we continued our conversation with Simbarashe Mangena from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe. With questions on the viability of Nuclear Power generation in Zim on account of the emergence of solar and other alternatives in Africa.

    Technikari with Simba Mangena, Nuclear Engineer from RPAZ (part 2)

    We also had a conversation with Takunda Mujuru the founder of Zim’s latest fitness app Zimbofit.

    ZimboFit: the story of Zim’s newest fitness app

    Lastly, with the buzz around Spotify we thought we would have a chat about all the the things we should expect the service to bring to Zimbabwe.

    Spotify coming to Zimbabwe, the good & the bad (mostly good)

  • Spotify coming to Zimbabwe, the good & the bad (mostly good)

    Spotify coming to Zimbabwe, the good & the bad (mostly good)

    Yesterday we were greeted with the news that Spotify is coming to Zimbabwe as part of its 85 country expansion. This means that those VPN warriors will now be able to listen to music on the popular streaming service without the cloak and dagger.

    We have a couple of Spotify diehards among us and we thought we would talk about what Spotify coming to Zimbabwe might do.

    • What is so good about Spotify anyway?
    • For hardcore fans and people who like nice things its a victory. But what does it mean for those who have never experienced it?
    • What will this mean for local artists and rights holders?
    • Data is a big concern for anyone approaching music streaming for the first time. Could Econet, Telecel and NetOne create a streaming bundle much like they should have created a unified messaging bundle for WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal?
    • If MNOs do make a streaming bundle, will that reduce piracy?

    You should also check out

    Last week we continued our conversation with Simbarashe Mangena from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe. With questions on the viability of Nuclear Power generation in Zim on account of the emergence of solar and other alternatives in Africa.

    Technikari with Simba Mangena, Nuclear Engineer from RPAZ (part 2)

    We also had a conversation with Takwana Tyaranini, co-founder of the popular remittance service Senditoo. We spoke about his journey and all the programs and promotions Senditoo has launched.

    Technikari with Takwana Tyaranini, co-founder of Senditoo

    Lastly, had a conversation with Takunda Mujuru the founder of Zim’s latest fitness app Zimbofit.

    ZimboFit: the story of Zim’s newest fitness app

  • ZimboFit: the story of Zim’s newest fitness app

    ZimboFit: the story of Zim’s newest fitness app

    Late last month we reported on ZimboFit, Zim’s newest fitness app. The application has some peculiarities in that its a PWA (Progressive Web Application). Why this is strange is because many of us are accustomed to having a downloadable app that we can use on our phones.

    A PWA is the same but you’ll access it through your web browser. After that initial report, we thought it would be great to have the creator of the application Takunda Mujuru on to tell us more about it.

    The discussions covered the following:

    • [04:00] The inspiration behind ZimboFit, the market the application is targetting and partnerships with trainers and nutritionists.
    • [12:09] The effects a PWA has on sharability since ShareIt is really big in Zimbabwe
    • [16:00] Why they chose a PWA instead of a conventional app, any plans for an Android or iOS app
    • [17:58] What the initial reception was like as well as the things they overdesigned and maybe underperformed on. How they are learning from those experiences going forward.
    • [22:06] Types of workouts and exercises as well as personalisation on Zimbofit.
    • [28:02] A beginner’s guide to making the most out of Zimbofit
    • [35:37] The business model, prices and how the trainers and nutritionists are paid
    • [39:43] Aspirations for the app going forward. Is it ever going to move from a one-time payment for the exercises to a monthly subscription model?

    You should also check out

    We had a conversation with Pardon Mukoyi and Wisdom Chirombi the duo behind the AI-based COVID-19 diagnistic system.

    Technikari with the Zim duo who created an AI-based COVID-19 diagnostic system

    We also had a conversation with Takwana Tyaranini, co-founder of the popular remittance service Senditoo. We spoke about his journey and all the programs and promotions Senditoo has launched.

    Technikari with Takwana Tyaranini, co-founder of Senditoo

    Lastly, we continued our conversation with Simbarashe Mangena from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe. With questions on the viability of Nuclear Power generation in Zim on account of the emergence of solar and other alternatives in Africa.

    Technikari with Simba Mangena, Nuclear Engineer from RPAZ (part 2)

  • Technikari with the Zim duo who created an AI-based COVID-19 diagnostic system

    Technikari with the Zim duo who created an AI-based COVID-19 diagnostic system

    The conversations roll on and on this episode of Technikari, we are joined by Wisdom James Murombo and Pardon Mukoyi the team behind the Chest X-Ray COVID-19 Diagnostic system we reported on in late 2020.

    Pardon and Wisdom claimed second place at the ICAT Hackathon for their system and they are now working with the Ministry of Health to deploy it nationwide.

    On this episode we talked about:

    • The development of the system with Kaggle’s chest X-Ray datasets
    • Challenges associated with deploying the system nationwide
    • Investment and govt support
    • Intergrating other forms of imagining (MRI and CT) as well as configuring the system to help with Cancer, TB and other diseases.

    Listen below:

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    Last week we talked to Eugene Ramirez Mapondera, comic book artist, animator and businessman. He is also the co-founder of Comexposed and he joined us to talk about being a creative in Zimbabwe.

    Technikari with Eugene Mapondera, co-founder of Comexposed

    We also had a conversation with Takwana Tyaranini, co-founder of the popular remittance service Senditoo. We spoke about his journey and all the programs and promotions Senditoo has launched.

    Technikari with Takwana Tyaranini, co-founder of Senditoo

    Lastly, we continued our conversation with Simbarashe Mangena from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe. With questions on the viability of Nuclear Power generation in Zim on account of the emergence of solar and other alternatives in Africa.

    Technikari with Simba Mangena, Nuclear Engineer from RPAZ (part 2)

    Tisu Vanhu Vacho Plug

    If you are in the mood for something more downbeat and not related to our usual coverage. We have another podcast called Tisu Vanhu Vacho where the media team at Techzim talks about anything and everything. On the latest episode, we talked about the whether we prefer an office work environment or working from home.

    This conversation started when Shamie (our Social Media Editor) found a report that said 40% of South Africans now prefer working from home. The proportion was pretty surprising judging by the limited transition and settling time the world’s workforce got to adapt to remote work.

    Tisu Vanhu Vacho Ep 17: remote work vs working in an office

  • Technikari with Simba Mangena, Nuclear Engineer from RPAZ (part 2)

    Technikari with Simba Mangena, Nuclear Engineer from RPAZ (part 2)

    Last week we had a network interrupted conversation with Simbarashe Mangena who is a Nuclear Engineer from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe (RPAZ). Thankfully this week we were able to continue the conversation and on this second edition of the Technikari Nuclear Special we learned even more about:

    • The use cases of Nuclear Science and Technology in Zimbabwe
    • Specific use cases for the different types of radiation
    • Africa not leveraging the 18% uranium supply it gives to the rest of the world for nuclear technology and infrastructure development
    • Challenges affecting Zimbabwe in adopting nuclear technology for power generation.
    • Is nuclear power generation in Africa and Zimbabwe even viable what with the rise of alternative and green energy like solar?
    • Management of nuclear waste in Africa.

    You should also check out

    Last week we talked to Eugene Ramirez Mapondera, comic book artist, animator and businessman. He is also the co-founder of Comexposed and he joined us to talk about being a creative in Zimbabwe.

    Technikari with Eugene Mapondera, co-founder of Comexposed

    We also had a conversation with Takwana Tyaranini, co-founder of the popular remittance service Senditoo. We spoke about his journey and all the programs and promotions Senditoo has launched.

    Technikari with Takwana Tyaranini, co-founder of Senditoo

    Tisu Vanhu Vacho Plug

    If you are in the mood for something more downbeat and not related to our usual coverage. We have another podcast called Tisu Vanhu Vacho where the media team at Techzim talks about anything and everything. On the latest episode, we talked about the whether we prefer an office work environment or working from home.

    This conversation started when Shamie (our Social Media Editor) found a report that said 40% of South Africans now prefer working from home. The proportion was pretty surprising judging from the limited transition and settling time the world’s workforce got to adapt to remote work.

    Tisu Vanhu Vacho Ep 17: remote work vs working in an office

  • Tisu Vanhu Vacho Ep 17: remote work vs working in an office

    Tisu Vanhu Vacho Ep 17: remote work vs working in an office

    Tisu vanhu vacho (Episode 17), vanhu vacho vapi? The people behind Techzim’s articles, videos and social media. Introducing the crew, we have our video wizard and Swiss Army knife – Edwin. Our social media manager who has been keeping things ticking on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – Shamie. Last but not least, Valentine writer and aspiring podcaster.

    The Podcast is a chance for all of us to share things that we find, interesting, noteworthy, controversial or all of the above. We all have differing opinions on a number of subjects and topics so we don’t always land on the page. But that’s the beauty of it, we get to disagree, and learn from one another.

    This podcast is an opportunity for us to interact with each other and with you about a range of issues.

    Tisu vanhu vacho episode 17

    Shamiso bumped into a news report that said 40% of South Africans want to continue working from home. That number is pretty high, and with the transition being only a year old that proportion was a little surprising.

    In this episode we discussed:

    • The pros and cons of the office setup and working from home.
    • Reasons why we prefer remote work or a conventional office work environment.
    • How the size of organisations makes one or the other easier to harder to handle on a personal level.

    Like all good conversations the more opinions the better. You can join in the conversation whether it’s on the comments section or on social media using the hashtag #tisuvanhuvacho.

  • Technikari with Takwana Tyaranini, co-founder of Senditoo

    Technikari with Takwana Tyaranini, co-founder of Senditoo

    On this episode of Technikari, we were joined by Takwana Tyaranini the co-founder of the popular remittance service Senditoo.

    Senditoo has been blazing a trail especially in 2020. The company slashed all fees for money transfers to Zimbabwe and it also launched a referral program where people get US$10 for referring someone to the service.

    On this episode we talked about:

    • Back in March 2020, the World Bank said that remittances to Sub Saharan Africa would fall by plus or minus 20% but for Zim it has been different. Remittances to Zimbabwe grew by 42%. Since Takwana Tyaranini is in the space, we asked what his take or insights are on the massive upswing.
    • Senditoo as mentioned before slashed all fees for money transfers to Zimbabwe, add that to the referral program and that’s quite a lot of money. How is Senditoo able to manage this?
    • We have seen the remittance space shift from just money transfers to include services as well. Senditoo recently launched their ZESA token purchases, so is this where the industry as a whole is headed?
    • Lastly what we should expect from Senditoo in 2021.

    You should also check out

    We had a conversation with Eugene Ramirez Mapondera, comic book artist, animator and businessman. He is also the co-founder of Comexposed and he joined us to talk about being a creative in Zimbabwe.

    Technikari with Eugene Mapondera, co-founder of Comexposed

    We also had a conversation with Norman Moyo, the Chief Executive Officer of Econet Subsidiary Distributed Power Africa. He gave us the lay of the land in Southern Africa when it comes to solar as well as all of DPA’s activities in Zimbabwe.

    Technikari with Norman Moyo, CEO of Distributed Power Africa (DPA)

    Lastly, we had chat with Simbarashe Mangena a Nuclear Engineer from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe. We got to hear about all the different applications for nuclear sciences and technology. As well as how close (or far) Zimbabwe is from its own nuclear power generation program.

    Technikari with Simbarashe Mangena, from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe (RPAZ)

  • Technikari with Simbarashe Mangena, from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe (RPAZ)

    Technikari with Simbarashe Mangena, from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe (RPAZ)

    On this episode of Technikari, we are joined by Simbarashe Mangena from the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe (RPAZ). He is a nuclear engineer and he gave us a walkthrough of Nuclear Technology and Science applications in Zimbabwe.

    We talk about:

    • What the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe (RPAZ) is and what it does?
    • Nuclear Science and Technology applications in general.
    • Applications of Nuclear Tech in Zimbabwe.
    • Is there a conducive regulatory and financial environment for Nuclear adoption in Zimbabwe.
    • How far or close Zimbabwe is from adopting Nuclear for power generation

    You should also check out

    Last week we talked to Trust Nhokovedzo, a digital marketing specialist and he gave us tips and tricks of how you can boost your business online through WhatsApp and other digital marketing channels

    Technikari Digital Marketing Special with Trust Nhokovedzo

    We also had a conversation with Norman Moyo, the Chief Executive Officer of Econet Subsidiary Distributed Power Africa. He gave us the lay of the land in Southern Africa when it comes to solar as well as all of DPA’s activities in Zimbabwe.

    Technikari with Norman Moyo, CEO of Distributed Power Africa (DPA)

    Lastly we talked to Eugene Ramirez Mapondera, comic book artist, animator and businessman. He is also the co-founder of Comexposed and he joined us to talk about being a creative in Zimbabwe.

    Technikari with Eugene Mapondera, co-founder of Comexposed

    Tisu Vanhu Vacho plug

    If you are in the mood for something more downbeat and not related to our usual coverage. We have another podcast called Tisu Vanhu Vacho where the media team at Techzim talks about anything and everything. On the latest episode, we talked about University degrees vs Apprenticeships. Which one is best and for which industries?

    Tisu Vanhu Vacho Ep 14: university degree vs apprenticeship

  • Technikari with Eugene Mapondera, co-founder of Comexposed

    Technikari with Eugene Mapondera, co-founder of Comexposed

    On this episode of Technikari, we are joined by Eugene Ramirez Mapondera the co-founder of Comexposed. Eugene is a comic book artist, animator and businessman. He is one of the luminaries in the Zimbabwean and African comic book and animation spheres.

    On this espisode we talked about:

    • Growing up wanting to be an artist or creative in Zimbabwe
    • Getting visual arts to be taken as a serious career path.
    • The founding of Comexposed
    • How the industry has changed in Zimbabwe and Africa
    • Managing collaborations with international players.
    • The impact of the pandemic on creatives.
    • What Eugene is looking forward in 2021.

    You should also check out

    Last week we talked to Tawanda Chihambakwe who is Zimbabwe’s Drone Expert. He is the Managing Director and Chief Drone Pilot for Zimbabwe Flying Labs, as well as the co-author of the bestselling Drone Professional 1 and the sequel to that is available on Amazon with the link here

    Technikari Drone Special with Zim’s drone expert Tawanda Chihambakwe

    We also had a chat with Trust Nhokovedzo, a digital marketing specialist and he gave us tips and tricks of how you can boost your business online through WhatsApp and other digital marketing channels

    Technikari Digital Marketing Special with Trust Nhokovedzo

    Lastly we had a conversation with Norman Moyo, the Chief Executive Officer of Econet Subsidiary Distributed Power Africa. He gave us the lay of the land in Southern Africa when it comes to solar as well as all of DPA’s activities in Zimbabwe.

    Technikari with Norman Moyo, CEO of Distributed Power Africa (DPA)

  • Tisu Vanhu Vacho Ep 16 with Nyeleti and Rivoningo from #BossGirl

    Tisu Vanhu Vacho Ep 16 with Nyeleti and Rivoningo from #BossGirl

    Tisu vanhu vacho (Episode 16), vanhu vacho vapi? The people behind Techzim’s articles, videos and social media. Introducing the crew, we have our video wizard and Swiss Army knife – Edwin. Our social media manager who has been keeping things ticking on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – Shamie. Last but not least, Valentine writer and aspiring podcaster.

    The Podcast is a chance for all of us to share things that we find, interesting, noteworthy, controversial or all of the above. We all have differing opinions on a number of subjects and topics so we don’t always land on the page. But that’s the beauty of it, we get to disagree, and learn from one another.

    This podcast is an opportunity for us to interact with each other and with you about a range of issues.

    Tisu vanhu vacho episode 16

    On this episode we were joined by Nyeleti and Rivoningo from #BossGirl

    We discussed:

    • The creation of #BossGirl
    • Challenges associated with running an online platform in the pandemic.
    • Trials of being a young entreprenuer in Africa
    • Opportunities for young Africans in the “new normal”

    The podcast ended abruptly because of some internet gremlins that decided to rear their ugly head.

    You can check out #BossGirl on Instagram with the link here

    Like all good conversations the more opinions the better. You can join in the conversation whether it’s on the comments section or on social media using the hashtag #tisuvanhuvacho.

    You should also check out

    The Technikari Episode where we spoke to Norman Moyo the Chief Executive Officer of Econet Subsidiary Distributed Power Africa (DPA). He gave us the lay of the land with solar energy in Africa and what DPA has been up to on the continent and in Zimbabwe.

    Technikari with Norman Moyo, CEO of Distributed Power Africa (DPA)

    We also spoke to Tawanda Chihambakwe from Zimbabwe Flying Labs. He is a drone specialist and a man all about Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

    Technikari Drone Special with Zim’s drone expert Tawanda Chihambakwe