Faculty-Led | Business
Overview
Due to Zimbabwe’s uncertain political outlook, business survival has required high innovation and strong leadership. This Business Development program invites faculty and their students to visit Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, to learn from small and larger businesses and their approaches to resilience. A smaller section of time is spent in the resort town of Victoria Falls where businesses mainly in the tourism sector are explored. Students will carefully examine the impact of various policy decisions on the economic climate of the country and collaborate in exploring solutions for the future.
Why Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe is a dramatic lesson in failed government policy, as well as the strength of innovative business in the face of adversity. Once a regional economic powerhouse, Zimbabwe is the most recent example of hyper-inflation, which saw it become the world’s fastest-shrinking economy. Inflation peaked at 79 billion percent and culminated in the abandonment of the local currency. Unemployment runs at a record high and manufacturing capacity utilization is minimal. With vast mineral resources and a fertile land area larger than Germany, the country’s national budget is now smaller than that of Harvard University, but all hope is not lost – the resilience, creativity and social consciousness of Zimbabwean businesses are a promising light in what is often perceived as a dark future. The country makes a fascinating case study for students interested in business development, entrepreneurship, and innovation in emerging economies.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this program, students should be able to:
- Discover and formulate new business concepts
- Examine first-hand the impact of policy decisions and determine appropriate actions for the future
- Explore the impact of culture and colonial history on African economic development
- Generate a competitive advantage for a business and/or new business concept
- Design market research projects and build a marketing strategy
- Develop financial management systems
- Integrate knowledge and information to create a business case
- Engage with thought leaders on the ground
Note: Specific learning outcomes and activities can be constructed in collaboration with EDU Africa’s dedicated curriculum development team.
Contributors
Roy Chimanikire
Roy (Group Chief Financial Officer at Econet Wireless) joined the organization in 2009 from Deloitte, where he was a Partner. Roy is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science (Honours) Degree from UNISA and a Certificate in the Theory of Accounting from the Institute of Chartered Accountants Zimbabwe (ICAZ). Roy is a registered Public Accountant and is a Council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Zimbabwe.
He also chairs the Auditing Professional Standards Committee (APSC) of ICAZ. He is on the boards of the Zimbabwe Accounting Practices Board (ZAPB) and the Public Accountants and Auditors Board (PAAB), which regulate the accounting and auditing professions in Zimbabwe. He has extensive experience in accounting and governance matters, and continues to participate in various projects to improve financial regulation in Zimbabwe.
Eddie Cross
With a background in Agriculture, Eddie was appointed first to head the Dairy Marketing Board and then the Cold Storage Commission. This was soon after Zimbabwe’s independence. He was subsequently CEO of the Beira Corridor Group, which promoted the rehabilitation of the Beira Corridor as an export outlet to the sea for land locked Zimbabwe. He is a founding member of the opposition MDC party and a Member of Parliament.
Customize Your Program
Our friendly and experienced team will work closely with you from conceptualization to execution, ensuring that each faculty-led program achieves your specific learning goals. We pride ourselves in our ability to create unique, sustainable and truly African transformative learning journeys.
Featured Experiences
Boma Restaurant
Meaning “the place of eating,” Boma appeals to the senses with a variety of local dishes including game meat such as kudu, warthog, and ostrich. Guests are welcome to take part in traditional drumming and dancing. They even have the opportunity to eat a local delicacy – mopane worms!
Craft Workshop
Enjoy a cultural evening with Zimbabwean musicians, after which the local craftsmen will be available to teach you how to craft beautiful pieces of jewelry and sculptures. This cultural immersion experience will not only teach you new skills but give you insight into the cultures and traditions of the people of Zimbabwe.
High Tea at Victoria Falls Hotel
Visit the famous Victoria Falls Hotel, renowned for its colonial-era architecture. This five-star hotel is only a ten-minute walk from the falls and was built in 1904 as a key part of the “Cape to Cairo” railroad dream. Today, enjoying a high tea on the terrace gives you insight into what life was like over a hundred years ago as you gaze at the Victoria Falls Bridge with mist rising from the thundering waterfall.
Tiger Fishing
These ferocious, predatory fish lurk throughout much of the Zambezi, catching prey with their enormous jaws and needle-like teeth. Add a tiger fish to your repertoire during your sports fishing adventure on the Zambezi.
Flight of Angels
Hover through the pounding mist of Victoria Falls as you explore the stunning landscape from the air. A specially designed helicopter, providing panoramic visibility to every passenger, takes you high into the sky to be truly encompassed by the mesmerizing grandeur of the falls.
Victoria Falls
Known as the “smoke that thunders,” Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The waterfall system is the largest on Earth, about 1.7 kilometers wide and 108 meters high. Enjoy being awestruck by the sheer magnificence of the falls.