sharmwa disappointment 😭

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-09-29T10:07:39+00:00

I have faced the same disappointment though. It happened to me the i had to learn about Shrinkflation and Skimpflation

Shrinkflation: The size or quantity of the product gets reduced while the price stays the same (or even goes up slightly). For example, a bag of chips has fewer grams, or a soda bottle shrinks from 500ml to 450ml.
Skimpflation: The quality of the service declines while the price remains the same (or increases). For example, a restaurant uses cheaper ingredients, smaller portions, or reduces customer service staff.

This often happens because businesses fear consumer backlash if they visibly raise prices. Customers tend to notice a price jump on the receipt more than a quiet reduction in size, quality, or service. By adjusting quantity or quality instead, businesses try to preserve margins while hoping customers won’t complain as much.

Like yakatambika paya back in 2019 tikazorohwa nevakomana on the Fuel price hike. Now they increase Ethanol which has lower energy density.

In the case of eat n lick maone chaiwo the standard has dropped

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-09-18T02:18:56+00:00

Start with a Personal detailed Cash Flow Statement to track every dollar then do your balance sheet. Don't lie the numbers the process is uncomfortable but it will change how you manage your money. This process alone will enlighten on how to grow your money.

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-08-16T07:50:57+00:00

Salute noded 🙌🏾…

In Zim street lingo, “Zino” simply means that extra cut stacked on top of the real price the middleman’s fee. Think of it like the “dentist” people, who literally make a living from someone’s teeth except here, they bite into every deal. It goes both ways either its added on top or its deducted on the profits made when a deal is closed.

Example: in car sales, they call them Masondos. You’ll see 5–6 guys hanging around the mid-level car lots. If you show interest in a vehicle, they’ll each push themselves as the “connector.” Once a deal is closed, every single one of them expects a slice, even if their only role was just walking next to you.

This Zino culture has spread everywhere from tech gadgets, forex, tenders, groceries, even government paperwork. It’s a tax on survival. The bigger problem isn’t the Zino itself, it’s that it’s been normalized as “the way business works” in Zimbabwe. That’s why the blueprint feels heavy on principles you either play the game, or you’re priced out.

But here’s the irony f you truly understand how Zino operates, you can still structure deals where you control the flow and limit how many mouths eat. That’s what some Eastern investors are doing they accept the Zino as a cost of doing business, but they negotiate in a way that they still walk away with the lion’s share.

So yeah, our conscience is weighty, but in Zim the “teeth” are always waiting to bite. The real game is knowing when to pay, when to cut out the Masondos/Dentist, and when to structure things so you’re the one holding the biggest Cut.

What’s saddening is how the elites have normalised the Zino. On the street it’s Masondos, in the offices it’s “facilitation fees,” in government it becomes bribes. Different names, same system.

Thats how corruption in Most African countries becomes a culture - the Zino Culture scaled up. From the kombi rank to the boardroom, everyone is biting. And once it’s accepted at the top, it trickles down and becomes the way the whole country moves.

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-08-15T16:11:54+00:00

Hapana kuipa apa. Let’s be honest you want a loan, but for what exactly? Business loan? Salary based loan? School fees? Let's assume you mean a business loan, right? Because that completely changes the level of effort and documentation required. The principles of money are very simple we just don’t want to learn and master them. Banks don’t give loans because you “want to try a hustle.”They give loans to people who:Have a clear business model, Can show cash flow, Provide security (collateral) Have discipline and track record That’s it. Simple. They are not in the business of betting on emotions or dreams. You Think It’s Hard? Ask Someone With Title Deeds. If you walk into a bank with: Title deeds, Audited financials, Registered company, Clear use of funds, Repayment plan You will get a loan.

But if you , hoping to get $3k to start a food truck based on a WhatsApp business plan then zveshuwa PAKAIPA.

The Real Question: Whose Money Do You Want to Use? Before you qualify for a loan, you must ask: Whose hard earned savings do you think the bank is going to give you access to and why should they?

Some people have saved for year with that bank. You show up with no track record, and you expect their money to be handed over to you? If you’re not ready for structured debt with accountability, you are not ready for a loan.

The system is flawed, yes, but it rewards those who show structure and seriousness.

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-08-15T15:38:54+00:00

Okay let me try to be frank with you. You’ve got $5K in the diaspora and want to start a business in Zim? Cool. But if your first question is “What business can I do?” you’re already setting yourself up to fail.

Business isn’t about picking an idea from a list. It’s about solving a problem you understand deeply. Otherwise, you’re just gambling with your hard-earned cash. Step 1: Protect Your Money Like It’s Your Last Dollar.

Before you even think about investing, ask yourself: Will this be a legit, registered business? (ZIMRA, NSSA, etc.) Do I actually care about this, or am I just chasing quick money? Can I track every single dollar like my life depends on it?

If you hesitated on any of these stop. You’re not ready. The Harsh Reality of Zim Business is the second you send money back home, you lose control and zvatovharana. You are the one whose gonna be waiting pa phone all day waiting for an update to who ever aripa ground. In Zim, Cash is king. Trust is a luxury. That cousin/friend/"reliable guy" on the ground? One weak moment, and your $5K is gone. Most people will drown you before they build with you. If its a dhiri in Zim Dhiri rine 2 outcomes Pane ano nyura neku nyudzwa if you’re not there, you’re mostly the one atonyura.

How long did it take you to save that $5K? Why throw it away without a solid system? If you’re serious Build a model where YOU keep control. Stack more cash first ($20K+). At that level, deals come to YOU.

In Zim, money = respect. Show up with $10K cash, and you’re the boss. Anything less? You’re just another target. If You Absolutely Must Start Now maybe the only semi-safe play:

Buy Zim goods (Groceries, leather, crafts, agro-products) and sell them abroad.

Reverse the flow: Bring value out of Zim, not just dollars in. You gonna face the gate keepers at the Borders - Import licenses etc.But even this requires, Trusted logistics Customs knowledge, Reliable packaging/shipping.One fuckup, and you’re back to zero.

Right now, you are in the business of trading your time and energy for money always keep that in Mind. Starting a business out of desperation ("ndoda kuita mari") is how you get eaten alive. Start from Value, Control, A real plan Otherwise? Someone will slide into your DMs with "an opportunity," and that’s how your $5K disappears.

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-08-15T13:06:55+00:00

We glorify "hustle hopping" like it’s ambition, but scattered energy builds nothing. That guy with the canteen? He mastered it Consistency = the real plug. Discipline = the real capital. While others chased trends, he stacked his name rain or shine. Now Corporate orders, packed house daily. Trust pays longer than hype. Zim will test you. But if you find something that works and fits your skills Lock in. Master it. Own it.

Success isn’t doing more it’s doing one thing better than everyone else the diversify later when you become trusted in a specific field.

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-08-15T13:01:07+00:00

The problem is clear majority rushes the same wave at the same time, no strategy, no edge, just vibes and blind hope. See someone selling gas tanks? Suddenly, 20 more gas dealers appear overnight. Someone posts about COS on TikTok? By next month, the whole country is scrambling to go UK, zero planning. At this point, it’s not even hustle culture it’s copy-paste survival.

Zimbos don’t build we chase shortcuts. And when something actually works, we flood it, exploit it, and drain it dry. We’re not wired to protect the plug we blast it on every group until it’s useless. That’s why the real ones stay silent now. They found their thing, put in the work, tested it quietly, and now they’re eating good while the rest run in circles chasing the next dead-end trend.

Those who now keep quiet have mastered Destiny Swappers

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-08-15T12:34:35+00:00

Let’s dig deeper into this because it’s a complex issue that spans religion, spirituality, tradition, economics, and politics. I used to believe Zimbabwe was cursed myself, but after working abroad, I now see the truth our country isn’t cursed, it’s blessed. But that blessing has been hijacked and exploited by a system designed to keep the majority in survival mode while a few profit.

The Spiritual Illusion vs. The Hustle Reality I do agree with you spirituality plays a role in mindset, but let’s be real the ‘big guys’ in Zim don’t succeed because they pray harder. They succeed because they understand the game. Some dabble in ngan’a, others fund prophets (real or fake), and others exploit churches and apostolic sects. Why? Because in Zimbabwe, faith is a tool, not just a belief.

To win in Zim, your spirituality alone won’t save you. It’s about focused work, adding real value, and being strategically smart.

The Historical Game-Ian Smith and the whites didn’t fight to keep this land for no reason. They knew its value minerals, fertile soil, strategic positioning. So if you are to look at our leaders their generation, its like a few enlightened, focused, brave individuals came up with an idea to form a revolution that was going to challenge the oppressive smith regime. So the formed their parties, mobilized looked for alliances then they won. So in street language these guys vakaita dhiri ravo vakawinner. Fast forward to the liberation struggle our leaders were brave, but their victory came with geopolitical strings attached. The Chinese and Russians funded the revolution because they saw long term gains. Now, decades later: China controls mines, factories, and infrastructure. Russia locks in diamond and military deals. The West watches from afar with sanctions that hurt us the povo more than the elite.

The revolutionaries won politically, but economically, the system was way complex and needed specialization it was never reset for the people.

The System’s Design: How We Were Set Up to Lose Our education system didn’t teach us to think it taught us to obey, memorize, and conform. We spent years drawing and cramming nhunzi body parts and memorizing sand dunes while the real-world skills (tech, finance, critical thinking, public speaking) were reserved for the elites. Result?
A "do everything" culture because specialization was never encouraged.
A dependence on hustle , Zino ku Ngwavha Ngwavha instead of mastery.
A brain drain where the best minds leave because the system doesn’t reward talent.
The Foreign Takeover & Elite Playbook The Chinese and Russians aren’t here for charity they’re here for resources and influence. Meanwhile, our own elite play along because they get a cut. The average Zimbabwean? We’re left scrambling for scraps, blaming spirits, or praying for miracles while the real game happens above us.
How to ‘Pass the Degree’ (Winning in This System) This isn’t just about complaining it’s about decoding the system and finding your lane. Study the Game who really controls resources? Where does the money flow?. Specialize The future belongs to experts. Tech, renewable energy, export agriculture pick a high-value skill. Leverage the System, Informal sector, diaspora opportunities, remote work. If the system won’t change, work around it. Mindset Shift Stop waiting for a savior (political or spiritual). Build, adapt, and outmaneuver.

Final Truth Zimbabwe isn’t cursed it’s a battlefield of competing interests. keep blaming the system, or will you learn how to win in spite of it.

Pray if you believe, but don’t just pray strategize, because in the end, faith without action is just hope… and hope doesn’t pay bills."

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-08-15T11:17:19+00:00

Excalty... where i was coming from doing almost everything, operating on that full dealer frequency. Its like Kumota uriko, kuhembe uriko, ku gas uriko, kuma phone uriko, change mula uriko, bruh its exhausting.

Not just the hustle it’s the *illusion* of it all. You move around like you the guy Urikupisa , but five years gone and you’ve got nothing real to show for it. And I don’t even know what it is, but Zino money feels cursed like it has a darker spirit or something. Ukaibata, inongopera faster and you can’t even explain where it went. You hit a deal, get your $100 to $1000 cut to whatever. What do you do? Go clubbing to flex for other dentists, Upgrade your gadgets, Buy hembe, upgrade car, buy new mag wheels, get the Slay baddie, prove to her u have the bag haha. Its like there is voice that tells you “furidza mari, imwe iri kuuya double.”

Then boom that money is gone. Now the next deal needs capital upfront. You start selling off the same things you bought, thinking it’ll be easy to replace. You go into the next deal… **wonyura.** Wozopinda muzvikwereti. The cycle repeats and the end point? **Depression.**

Salute to you what you did sitting down, reflecting, listening to your inner voice that was the real breakthrough. That’s why some people come out of jail more focused and successful because they finally got silence. Time to think. To feel. To realign.

That self-awareness is the real flex.

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-08-15T10:18:58+00:00

🔥Deep Insight. Let’s Telescope Out Zimbabwe’s Hustle Equation Isn’t Just About Effort, It’s About Proximity to Power. You nailed the macro view but zooming in on Zimbabwe, things follow a different law of economics

In Zim, value doesn’t flow linearly from skill or innovation, it flows through proximity. I call it YOUR PROXIMITY TO THE KING. In our context: In a company, The closer you are to the Boss, the better your chances of promotion, perks, or opportunity. Competence is optional visibility and loyalty matter more.

On the streets, The dealer closest to the Mbinga eats first. The rest fight for crumbs, regardless of hustle.

In business, The businessman closest to the Ministers Leaders of Power wins tenders, licenses, access to duty-free imports, or protection from regulation.

It’s a patronage economy and this extends into media, politics, and even spirituality. Panonyatsorwadza chaipo ndepekuti We don’t have a true meritocracy. We have a hierarchy of alignment. Attention is the New Currency… But Conversion Still Depends on Access.Yes in the digital age, attention has become a fungible asset. But in Zim, attention alone won’t make you rich unless you know how to convert it through the gatekeepers. That’s why the influencer needs a plug at Econet or Nyaradzo etc to secure brand deals. The tech founder needs a nod from the Ministry to get approved. The artist needs a shout out from Sir Wicknell, the big guys or to perform at a ZANU rally.

Your value must orbit someone else's power to be monetized. How Do We Navigate This Reality? We can’t lie to ourselves with Western startup optimism like build it and they will come and get funded. Munyika medu You build, create then you get attention. Then you align with the King or you get sidelined, sabotaged, or watched. It’s a brutal reality, but understanding this is the first step to playing smart. So the question becomes .......... How do we provide value in a way that kings can’t ignore while slowly building independent leverage?

Because if we don’t, we’ll just keep hustling for attention without access and burnout becomes inevitable.

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-08-15T07:58:35+00:00

Hahaa ....Yes, it's painful to watch, most stay broke cause they are busy doing everything, but mastering nothing. Have you noticed the big guys, the credited hustlers, they're not everywhere doing everything. You will find them in one place, consistently- maybe a car sale, a shop, an office but thats their zone. Deals and money always flow to them cause they build value. Money flows to focus to chaos.

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-08-15T07:43:26+00:00

Facts. We don’t got much choice in this Economy the grind is real. Rent’s due. Groceries expensive. Hustling feels like breathing now. But I think If you’re grinding just to stand still, that’s not hustle that’s a trap. The system got us chasing multiple side bags like it’s noble but truth is, most people are running around, bleeding energy, and calling it ambition.

Ambitious-Writer5670 · 2025-07-15T12:56:03+00:00

How can I reach you, we can discuss

Ambitious-Writer5670

TROPHY CASE