Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a country of remarkable talent that desperately needs access to capital. During the first 20 years of its independence, Zimbabwe was lauded as “the bread basket of Africa” while consistently leading the continent in human development measures including literacy, health, and production. Though much of those gains have been challenged during the last decade, the nation has a history of achievement that we are certain it is capable of reaching once again. Zimbabwe’s current isolation from the global financial marketplace makes it the most acute intersection of potential and need.

Mutare, the capital of the Manicaland Province, is our main city of operation. As one of Zimbabwe’s major cities, it is nicknamed “Zimbabwe’s Gateway to the Sea”. We chose Mutare as the setting for our launch because it provided us a talented pool of candidates while maintaining the manageability of a smaller town. Founded in 1897, the city has a rich history and has undergone several evolutions. The city sustains itself on citrus farming, mining, agriculture, hospitality and cattle ranching. With the collapse of the Zimbabwe economy over the past few years, the country contains a large pool of talented and motivated individuals with few resources available to them. Mutare is unique among Zimbabwean locations due to the vibrant cross-border exchange it enjoys: the city is minutes away from the markets of Mozambique and just a few hours from the international port of Beira on the Indian Ocean. This strategic positioning gives many of our participant’s greater opportunities in trade and transport, invaluable for the small enterprises that we target.