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2. “Sound
strategy starts
with having the
right goal.”
—Michael
Porter
ALWAYS DO CAREFUL RESEARCH
BusinessLink magazine is designed to
educate and provide general
information as well as to stimulate
readers’ thinking. While every care is
taken to ensure that information in this
magazine is correct, we advise readers
to consult their professional advisors
when making business decisions. The
magazine is distributed on the
understanding that the publisher is not
rendering legal or financial advice and
readers use the information herein at
their own risk.
BUSINESSLINK
MAGAZINE
BusinessLink, the magazine for
growing companies, delivers real
solutions for today’s innovative
business builders. It gives advice,
tools and resources to CEOs and
owners of small-to-midsize
companies as well as new
entrepreneurs that help accelerate
their growth.
BUS INESSLINK MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014 Page 2

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4. Contents
2015 is here. Grow or die. .................................................................................................. 6
Business News Updates ..................................................................................................... 7
Zimbabwe lures SA for investments ............................................................................... 7
Choppies engages Zimbabwe SMEs for product supply ................................................. 9
Take responsibility for developing your rural area ........................................................... 11
Business Profile: Ratanje Shoe and Heel Bar: Providing Leather Products Since 1963 .. 13
Cover feature ................................................................................................................... 18
Ten Rules for Growing Your Business Fast in 2015 ....................................................... 18
How to Get Projects Done More Quickly ...................................................................... 28
9 Things Rich People Do Everyday ................................................................................ 30
Doing business in Zimbabwe ............................................................................................ 35
How To Register A Company ........................................................................................ 35
Leadership ....................................................................................................................... 38
Grow by Sharpening your networking skills ................................................................ 38
Managing People ............................................................................................................. 41
Human Resources Challenges for SMEs ....................................................................... 41
Marketing and Selling ...................................................................................................... 44
How To Create The Perfect Social Media Post.............................................................. 45
Why do we resist asking for money? ............................................................................ 48
Finance ............................................................................................................................ 50
5 Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs Should Avoid ........................................................ 50
Last Page .......................................................................................................................... 54
BUS INESSLINK MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014 Page 4

5. REFER A FRIEND AND
EARN COMMISSION
Good News: Earn commission when you refer a
friend for the following services:
 New Company registration
 Self Company
 Private Business Corporation
 Tax clearance
 Vendor number
 State Procurement Board registration
 Liquor licence
 Business plan writing
call Phil now on 0777 774 007, or Christine on
0772 854 301
OR visit us at 3rd Floor Merchant House. 34 Robson
Manyika/ 2nd Street, Harare
PS: We now offer flexible payment terms for
company and PBC registration, so no need to
wait, contact us now.
BUS INESSLINK MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014 Page 5

6. 2015 is here. Grow
or die.
Phillip Chichoni-
Publisher
Another year is coming to an end. It has been one
of the most challenging years for business and
economics that we have experienced ever. Numerous small businesses
have closed. Many offices, retail shops and industrial factories are empty.
A lot of business owners have fallen by the wayside or downsized. The
environment, characterized by tight liquidity and low demand, has been
too much of a challenge for a lot of business owners.
For serious entrepreneurs, however, challenge is the name of the
game. The race is on and you are in it. If you are not committed to
winning, to conquering against all odds, you will be brushed aside and
passed over by people and companies more determined to win than you
are.
The challenges in business are not unique to Zimbabwe. Some time
ago, Harvard University made three predictions that apply to the
current economic situation. First, they said, there will be more change in
your business in every year ahead than ever before. Second, there will be
more competition in your business than ever before. And third, there will
be more opportunities in your business than ever before.
To survive, business owners must stay on their toes and think on their
feet. It can no longer be business as usual. Old methods of doing
business will not keep you in the race. You need to know more and do
more. Staying in the same place in a moving environment will see you
being left behind.
You need to always be growing. If you don’t grow, you will atrophy.
This December issue, our ninth edition of BusinessLink magazine, we
focus on growth. We give you advice on how to plan and act in order to
grow and keep your business moving fast ahead in the coming year and
forward. I hope you will be stimulated and motivated to keep on
growing, adapting to the changing environment and making your
business proper.
You are the one responsible for the outcomes of your business; not the
external environment.
Have refreshing holidays and hit 2015 running!
Twitter: #chichonip

7. Business News Updates
Zimbabwe lures SA for
investments
By Tawanda Karombo
Reuters File picture: Siphiwe Sibeko
Zimbabwe has turned to its
southern neighbour and other
external sources for financial
support in its bid to secure much
needed financing to fund an
economic programme that has
remained stuck on paper owing
to budgetary constraints and
waning appetite by investors.
Saddled with a debt running beyond $9 billion (R98bn) and nervy
investors who are unwilling to take additional political, regulatory and
operating risks occasioned by an uncertain environment, Zimbabwe’s
economy is struggling.
Profitability prospects for businesses and companies have taken a
knock while the country’s populace is battling rising unemployment, two
major factors that have led to the informalisation of the economy.
Despite being told to fix its regulatory framework and to restore
certainty to the operating framework, Zimbabwean government officials
are turning to the international community for fresh funding.
Even those source markets previously considered hostile such as
Britain are viewed as potential sources for key funding and investment
facilities.
Declining confidence in the country’s financial services sector is also
hobbling the economy, with the informal sector booming. Most of the
locally owned banks are struggling for liquidity while the rate of non-performing
loans is spiking.

8. “The productive sector is evidently struggling, with productivity going
down. If we are to revive the economy, it starts with having a plan to
boost production but the key sector for all this – the financial services
sector – is also struggling for liquidity and the banks are not sure if
borrowers will be able to pay back,” an executive with a Johannesburg-based
investment fund manager said.
Last week, senior Zimbabwe government officials staged a conference
in Johannesburg in a bid to lure South African investors to sink money
into Zimbabwean projects. Central bank governor John Mangudya and
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa – who both made presentations in
Johannesburg – have written to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
seeking new assistance, even though the country has not yet cleared its
arrears.
Government sources in Zimbabwe say the government is pushing for
cancellation of the debt it owes the IMF. However, this is highly unlikely,
with Dominico Fanezzi, who headed an IMF mission to Zimbabwe in
September, saying: “Zimbabwe cannot be on the Highly Indebted Poor
Countries status” as qualifying countries “have to be very, very poor.”
Some of the international funders that Zimbabwe owes such as the
Paris Club and IMF are said to be open to concrete plans for debt
rescheduling as Zimbabwe is currently financially crippled.
Chinamasa and Mangudya said in Zimbabwe’s re-engagement letter to
the IMF this month that “as part of the Zimbabwe Agenda for
Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation, we also intend to
accelerate our re-engagement on debt resolution with all our creditors”,
including the international financial institutions.
Chinamasa told the South African conference on that Zimbabwe was
trying to fix the uncertainty that was deterring investors willing to invest
in Zimbabwe.
“I believe South African investors have a moral and business
obligation to invest in Zimbabwe or we will continue bothering you. It’s
in your interest,” he said.
He added that Zimbabwe was addressing uncertainty concerns raised
by investors regarding the empowerment and indigenisation policy.
In its current format, it requires that all foreign owned firms cede 51
percent majority shares into the hands of black Zimbabwean groups,
including community and employee share ownership schemes.
However, the mining sector – in which Anglo Platinum, Aquarius
Platinum and Impala Platinum have key operations – will not be affected
by the new changes the government is planning, with Chinamasa saying
“mining will be treated differently” as the “mineral… belongs to the
state”.
-www.iol.co.za
BUSINESS LINK MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014 Page 8

9. Choppies engages
Zimbabwean SMEs for
product supply
Picture credit: fastmoving.co.za
By Charity Ruzvidzo
BULAWAYO’s dominant retail chain, Choppies Zimbabwe, says it
has engaged small-scale businesses to supply its outlets with certain
goods in a move aimed at enhancing growth of indigenous
entrepreneurs.
The giant retail firm opened its 15th branch in Pumula East
during a brief function attended by the company’s director
Siqokoqela Mphoko.

10. The new branch has created 32 jobs for local residents, bringing
the workforce for the 15 outlets to 1,304 workers. “We’ve been
engaging small-scale companies to sell us their products, which are
later branded for us by National Foods. For instance, we’ve peanut
butter, rice and kapenta from small businesses. We also have bread
from small bakeries that were not recognised like Tripple Fresh and
Oceans,” he said.
Mphoko said security at the retain chain’s supermarkets was
being provided by indigenous companies like Shield Security, a
Bulawayo-based company.
“We’re happy to create employment in the country. This branch
will have 32 workers, thereby increasing our workforce to 1,304
workers. We employed people from this suburb so that locals
benefit from opening of the new branch,” he said.
Choppies Zimbabwe board chairperson and former Zimbabwe
Ambassador to South Africa Phelekezela Mphoko said the retail
chain thrives on offering customers real value for their money.
“We’ve managed to grow because we don’t short-change our
valued customers by charging high prices. We give our customers
the respect they deserve and we value their support,” he said.
Choppies Zimbabwe is also set to open two more branches in
Harare next week and early next month.
Choppies has more than 100 supermarkets in South Africa,
Botswana and Zimbabwe.
This article first appeared in the Chronicle newspaper
on 24 November 2014.
IF YOU ARE ALWAYS TRYING
TO BE NORMAL, YOU WILL
NEVER KNOW HOW AMAZING
YOU CAN BE.
- Maya Angelou
BUSINESS LINK MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014 Page 10

11. Take responsibility for
developing your rural area
By Milton Kamwendo
In my work at Innov8 Consultoria I do a lot of
work with agricultural-related business and Non-
Governmental Organization. I facilitate strategy
development workshops, work on capacity
building and organisational development
interventions. The role of the NGOs in
development and raising the standard of living in
our rural areas in highly commendable and should
continue. A number of other community actors have also taken the
responsibility to make a difference at the grassroots and at household
level. I have also met many individuals that have done many
commendable things in their rural spaces. Efforts are there but they are
not enough. Unless we start seeing the potential of our rural spaces and
investing in them proactively, development will be a distant song playing
on foreign radios. Should we choose, you and me can do something
where we are, with what we have to change the rural development
narrative.
What is regrettable and disheartening is that there is a significant
portion of capable and resourced people that have abandoned their rural
areas and left them at the mercy of anyone-to-whom-it-may concern and
whatever-may-happen there. To use a rural home is just a burial is to
abuse a family and national treasure. We can never rise to greatness as
developing nations so long as we ignore the rural areas and allow them
to be abused for cheap political egos without tangible development.
Many people have over the years been playing their part in rural
development and it is clear that the new frontier of interest and
opportunity is developing rural areas, empowering our people and
positively impacting the grassroots. Tooting high sounding verbiage and
development rhetoric to small pools of urbanites that are not willing to
take personal responsibility while ignoring the great rural majority at the
grassroots will hold future generations of our nation hostage to
debilitating poverty.
Take responsibility: If not you, who?

12. In most areas in Africa, even for city denizens your primary identity is
the rural home of origin. In the colonial era, the first interview question
used to be: "Where do you come from?" You could not be taken seriously
is you referred to some urban area as your base. Much has changed
since.
In Zimbabwe your rural district is still identified in your national
identity number. For a few senior citizen, even your kraal is identified in
your national identity. To drum interest in the rural areas as a ticket into
circles of power is to abuse our heritage. We must start taking active
responsibility for our rural destinies. It is gross irresponsibility to treat
rural homes as places to bury and confine the poor, aged, sick and dying.
This change starts with a change in attitude and mindset. To be
cloistered within the urban comforts and forget that the rural areas are
not another country, but part of who we are is to be self-deceived.
Without taking personal responsibility and interest in developing our
rural spaces we will forever be a lost people with confused and stinking
priorities. We will be known for singing great ideals and emotive
choruses but doing nothing worthwhile to transform and uplift our own
heritage.

13. Business Profile: Ratanje Shoe and Heel Bar:
Providing Leather Products Since 1963

14. Ratanje’s Shoe and Heel Bar has been providing quality leather
products to Zimbabweans since 1963.
With a vision to become the number one national solution and service
provider of leather products, repairers and manufactures of hand bags,
footwear, belts, wallets, folders, note covers in Zimbabwe, Ratanje’s is
well poised to please its customers.
Over the years Ratanje’s has managed to build and nurture good
relationships with international and local players in the leather industry.
These include Leather Industries of Kenya, Paul Moeller of South Africa,
Fredk Moeller of Germany. Such relationships have enabled the
company to benefit from these partners’ research, product development
and better understanding of the market.
Among the company’s values are the qualities of, excellent customer
service, exceptional products, professionalism, team work, accountability
and integrity.
Ratanje’s supplies leather products to individuals as well as
institutions like schools, government departments and the police and
army. The range of service includes:
 Manufacturing and repairing of all uniform shoes
 Manufacturing fashion shoes and providing repair services
 Manufacturing and repairing leather handbags
 Manufacturing leather belts, wallets and repairs
 Manufacturing and repairing folio covers, and folders
Ratanje Staff busy in the factory

15. The company also specializes in :
 Designing of leather products as per customer specifications.
 Shoes from uniforms, orthopedic shoes, safety shoes, travel
goods, belts in various colours.
 Repairing and restoring original shape of leather products using
new materials.
 Leather products materials, peripherals and accessories.
 Storage and Backup service for products
 The company’s management has a philosophy of developing
their personnel within the organisation, thereby expanding the
individual competencies and capabilities, which in turn
strengthen RATANJE Shoes intellectual capital. Backed by solid
incentive packages, RATANJE Shoes empowers its employees by
fortifying their strengths in their respective fields.
Key Personnel
Mr Ratilal G. Pitamber (Managing Director) : Who has been
with company since 1967, and has worked previously with various
institutions in the country from a tender age. Has got vast knowledge in
leather products, repairs and manufacturing. He has also forged strong
partnerships with different sectors of the economy.
Mr Stewart Chapeta (Pictured below) (General Manager):
Bcom Honours Degree
Management Accounting,
Diploma in Business
Administration (ZIM), Pitman’s
Certificate in Cost And
Management Accounting,
Certificate in Internal Auditing,
Taxation in Zimbabwe, SA Host
(Customer Service) marketing,
basic selling techniques,
customer service care, 20 years
working experience in
Accounting and Financial
Administration, General
Management, Sales, Marketing
and Production.

16. Mrs Pratibhadevi Pitamber / Darlington Chapeta / More-
Blessing Doka / Lovemore Bandera And Munyaradzi J.
Chapeta: These key members of staff have received in-house training in
customer service, workshop production management, purchasing and
stores control, quality control, manufacturing and repairing of leather
products.
Finished shoes on display at Ratanje’s
Ratanje’s Shoe and Heel is located at 97 Robert Mugabe Road, Harare,
Telephone 04-702620

18. Cover feature
Ten Rules for
Growing Your
Business Fast in 2015
Picture Credit: Ailisgarcia.com

19. Words by Phil Chichoni
The moment you stop growing your business, you have stopped
running. It does not matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle, you are
just waiting for the inevitable end.
In 1952, a Harvard University team made three predictions that apply
to our constantly changing business environment. The predictions were
as follows:
1. There will be more change in your business in the year ahead
than ever before.
2. There will be more competition in your business than ever
before.
3. There will be more opportunities in your business than ever
before.
A fourth prediction was added later: Those individuals and
organizations that do not quickly adapt to the inevitable and unavoidable
changes of today will be in different fields of business within one or two
years.
It is no longer business as usual. The business environment is
changing faster than ever before. Firms that do not vigorously pursue
growth strategies will falter.
Businesses are facing challenges they have never had to face before.
Survival is not enough. There are more and more people and businesses
who are so determined to win that they will take over market share from
complacent snoozers.
The rules for growth detailed in this article come from the research of
successful businesses and their leaders both in Zimbabwe and outside
the country. Of course it will never be easy to apply all of the rules, but
what choice do you have? Nothing significant is ever achieved without
hard work.
Rule No.1: Set Clear Business Goals
The number one reason for business failure is the inability of the
leader to set and achieve sales, growth and profitability goals.
All the strategic and market planning, including what products and
services to supply, the people to hire, productivity, finances and
competitive responses are all embraced in the setting and achieving of
business goals.
In preparing this article, I asked some business owners I know what
their goals were for 201. The majority just gave vague answers. They had
no written goals for sales or profit, the most important measures of
business growth.
BUSINESS LINK MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014 Page 19

20. With no definite goals, how do you know where you are going? How do
your people know what they are supposed to achieve?
All strategy begins with deciding exactly what is to be achieved in the
long term. You then establish the short- and medium- term objectives
that will eventually lead to your overall goals for the company.
Goals set in numbers are easier and more practical to implement. This
is because what gets measured gets done. Some examples of quantitative
goals are:
1. The levels of sales volume that you want the business to attain
during the year.
2. Gross profit margins on sales.
3. Net profit margins on sales.
4. Return on capital invested in your business.
Goals must be clearly communicated to everyone who has a role in
meeting them. Get them written down. Review them regularly to ensure
you are on track. Take corrective measures whenever you find the
business getting off-course. Action can be taken when the goals are clear
and measurable.
Rule No.2: Set Priorities and Focus on
Key Tasks
In an unpredictable business environment, many owners get bogged
down trying to solve one crisis after another. They easily lose focus and
are easily overtaken by competitors whilst they are distracted.
Winners set priorities for their business. They deploy the limited
resources available, especially people, time and money into those areas
that will make the greatest contribution to the success of the business.
List your priorities in terms of the following criteria:
a) Critical tasks. These are important and must be done or there
will be serious consequences if not done.
b) Mildly important tasks. These have mild consequences and can
be put off while you do A tasks.
c) Task with no consequences. These are nice things to do or have
but carry no serious consequences.
When allocating resources, be they time, people or money, always
prioritize A tasks. Never do a B when A is not done. And never do a C
task when B is not done. The most important things must never be left
at the mercy of the less important ones. In this cash tight economy, the
most important thing it to generate revenue. Ask yourself whether or not
an activity you are considering will add to revenue. Focus on things that
will grow your sales fastest.
BUSINESS LINK MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014 Page 20