Cabanga Magazine

Featured Companies Zimbabwean News Websites, Newspapers, and Media Zimbabwe Internet during ZANU and Mugabe If you search on Google.com using the words “Mugabe” or “Robert Mugabe” or “ZANU”, you will get not less than 2,500,000 web pages as results. There is a lot said about these three phrases by .CO.ZW, .CO.ZA and .COM websites, as the nation goes through transformation into an economic powerhouse. Day after day, emails, web links, pictures, slideshows, jokes, forums, chats, instant messages, electronic magazines, Newsletters, Newspaper Articles, photos, graphics, and other files are moved from on email box to another, from one continent to another, and from one website to another. Stories are created, cartoons are drawn and posted. Some true, some fabricated. There is a hive of “all” opinions on the subject matter. Zimbabwe Urikuendepi: Where are you going? Without being political, my focus would be on the motives, the business, and the going concern of the News, Debates, Books, Pub...

The Internet is only one of many platforms on which an enterprise can publicise itself. At present Websites are competing for advertising attention with Print and Television advertising content. Let us seek answers for the following questions: How much advertising material are web consumers exposed to? This helps an enterprise formulate effective marketing strategies, which involve their website. DSTV, ZTV, Billboards, Clothing Publications (Labels), Movies, Food Courts, Specific Magazines, Newspapers, just to name a few. Do webverts ™ (Website Adverts) work? It is not a matter of just advertising, but an effectiveness measurement has to be put into place. Relevance, convenience, quantity, structure, of adverts should be considered. What is so different about Webvertising ™? Marketing gurus classify Advertising methods according to emotions nowadays – Fear and Love being the two extremes. We see this on Television and in Print media. Marketers often make consumers feel as though left o...

Zimbabwe does not have sufficient numbers of the following facilities, capable of securing consumer confidence: Online Transaction Processing Systems. By this I refer to a simple software application that allows web consumers to purchase goods or services over the Internet, without the use of bank notes. These are more transaction oriented than credit rating oriented. I know of one such innovation, through the Zimbabwe Association of Inventors. One of our members developed an electronic wallet, which is currently going under scrutiny with our Reserve Bank. This product is not a duplication of western technology, but a literal new innovation. When it passes the test, it will transform eCommerce in Zimbabwe. Online Credit Rating. We are one of the few Literate countries which have not been affected or bulldozed by Visa or Master Card, in our credit rating systems. I believe that this is a good thing because it enables the birthing of our own credit rating processing Systems. The good new...

Featured Companies FoodWorld, OK, DST, eTranzact, PayPal and CABS Online Zimbabwe eCommerce in 2007 This year has brought in some improvement on the .CO.ZW cyberspace, as a few companies are now offering Online Transactions from their websites. Food World and OK, the chain supermarkets, both have online shopping facilities. eTranzact, PayPal, and CABS Online are strong on the Backbone of Zimbabwean Online Transaction Processing Systems. Despite being over politicized, eCommerce has taken off on a good note this year, because the most popular banks now have eBanking facilities, and the Zimbabwean Consumer now has external funds stored in banks outside our borders. Food to the Zimbabwean eWorld – www.foodworldzim.com Food World Chain Supermarkets has two mirrored websites that it uses for eCommerce purposes. They have a local .CO.ZW website and the above .COM website. The .COM website is the one that is connected to PayPal.com, one of the leading Online Payment Systems in the World, whic...

The following are some of the many marketing misconceptions that I would like to address in this book: Websites are Marketing Expenses. This is false, because a website is an investment. We live in the days of the Google Economy, where you even earn US$ for just reserving a portion of your website for Google AdSense, and in the days of Advertising Synergies. Not many people use the Internet. This is false, because Zimbabwean urban consumers are very technology oriented. There are more literate consumers in urban centers now, who have equal access to Internet – through Internet Cafes. The Computer Population is Zimbabwe is growing, especially the Laptops, whose owners want Internet access as soon as they buy them. Websites are for Internet presence only, because we cannot implement eCommerce in Zimbabwe. This is false, because websites are for consumers not your company, hence can be used for more than just your business card. eCommerce in Zimbabwe is transforming, with a few hiccups th...

INTRODUCTION Since the commercial inception of many Information and Communication Technologies and various business methods in Zimbabwe, consumers have been hoping for an ever increasing Quality of Service (QoS) in Information Services. This has not been the case; due to a contribution of various factors influencing the direction of growth of this industry. There are basically seven types of Information Service Points, which this paper seeks to address the audience, to shed light upon the dealings thereof. These are Websites, Directories, CDROMs, Periodics, Mobile Phones, Kiosks, and Cafes. Closely examining these will help define this industry, and point out a way forward – that’s the aim of this paper. DEFINITION Information Services can be defined as any repetitive business concept of publishing data, in any relevant format, to inform an audience, whilst achieving profitability. Please realize that in the 21st century, there are many industries which are springing up because of the ...

Database Driven Most of them are database driven, making it difficult for each entry to be found by search engines like google.com. Most use Cold Fusion, a technology not easily accessible by Google scripts. Google uses Perl. The difference is that Perl dumps information on every query (Client Driven), yet Cold Fusion keeps everything on the server on which the query is being requested (Server Driven). What has influence these web publications • Mindsets o People only read from newspaper classifieds only. o Who would want to invest in a vibrant website? o It’s Zimbabwe anywhere! • Lack of understanding of marketing in cyberspace. • More of a presence issue, for corporate image issue. The Technologies Used Most of the websites were developed by WebDev and Design@7. WedDev is strong on Wed Development (the Database side), hence their sites have that orientation. Design@7 is strong with Graphics, hence their sites have that orientation. Some other sites were developed by small companies, ...

Technology-wise, the world has moved into the Internet Era – birthed in 1995. This has seen the birth of Electronic Commerce (eCommerce). In short Internet means ‘network of networks’, in terms of Information and Communication Technologies. eCommerce, through the Internet and other related technologies, is the bringing of Investors, Employees, Management, Consumers, Customers, Suppliers, Competitors, and Government Departments together in a virtual business environment. 1.1 Globally The Internet is now the widely viewed as the fastest growing communications phenomenon of all time. The comparative chart below places into context the dramatic pace of growth of the World Wide Web (www), a central feature of the Internet for most users. ITU, January 1999 At present the Internet user rate is at an estimate of 300 million, and is expected to reach 500 million in 2005. Revenues are currently estimated at US$1.3 trillion, which are expected to rise to about US$3 trillion by 2005. 1.2 Africa We...

One of the challenges being faced by the local Information Technology Industry is the increasing migration of specialists; leaving for other countries which offer better remuneration and advanced Infrastructures. The following are some of the recreation by players and educationists: a) The Computer Society of Zimbabwe introduced the International Computer Driving License (ICDL), which has taken the market by storm. This course makes it easier for anyone to find an Information Technology related job. b) The Harare Polytechnic (rep of HEXCO) Computer Studies Department has embarked on a campaign to introduce degrees in the next few years to come. The major assistance is from Asian educational and industrial players. c) Occupational training facilities have increased in the past decade. These have majored in products from world leading vendors like Microsoft, Sun, Cisco, CompTIA, Compaq, Caldera and Dell. d) Institutes like SIRDC and AVU (African Virtual University) have introduced cours...

There are five major aspects affecting consumers, which contribute to the success of eCommerce in Zimbabwe – namely Disposable Income, Literacy, Migration, Economic Instability and Technological Changes. 6.1 Disposable Income Most people spend their disposable income on commodities than unique experiences. Others have their disposable income locked up in liability promoting expenditures. This poses a challenge to eCommerce players to create more disposable income, and eventually employment, through their inventions. 6.2 Literacy The 35year and above age demographic group is the most Information and Communications Technologies illiterate; yet the bread winning group. This poses a huge challenge to eCommerce players in educating these income holders. There is however hope in the younger generation, as they are the most literate and also increasingly attaining employment. 6.3 Migration People are migrating to other nations with better living conditions. Our nation is losing an estimate of...

Websites are different, derived from their purpose. There are informative, Transactional, Referral, Behavioural, and Mixed. Informative Websites These are websites whose sole purpose is to provide information, whether commercial or academic. Websites that offer information for Commercial purposes usually sell their information. These websites require you to join a community, having paid a subscription. Most of these use the credit processing systems available, such as VISA and MasterCard. Websites that offer information for Academic use usually give out information for free. These include Public Databases, Archives, Community Institutions (e.g. Churches), and Government Departments, just to name a few. I came across an information website the other day, when I was looking for a template for a Shareholders Agreement. I visited the LawDepot.com website, which contains templates of legal documents. This website helps you build your desired Agreement. After filling in the template, the re...

In November 2004, many nations, through the Word Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), begun to work on the amendment of their broadcasting services in the form of a Broadcasting Treaty. This came about when nations realised that Radio-communication and Telecommunication was being intertwined in commerce because of the Internet. There is a clear distinction between Cable-casting (data transmission through wire/fibre), Broadcasting (data transmission through radio waves), and “now” Web-casting (data transmission through both, using the Internet). Zimbabwe followed through by amending the Broadcasting Act, to incorporate Webcasting per se, found in the Broadcasting Regulations. The amendments now include charges payable by Internet Service Providers and Content Providers, just to mention a few. Knowledge of this change gives you insight on the environment in which your website is being regulated. This may not be important; but as this saying goes, “Being for warned is being for arme...

In understanding what content is, entrepreneur ought to understand the difference between Web Designing, Development and Publishing respectively. This helps the enterprise know the role they play in regards to the website. Web Designing has to do with the Graphics, Art and Layout. This topic deals with the artistic creativity that is put into creating buttons, menus, pictures, animation, and page layouts. A Web Designer understands the beauty and image aspects of the Internet, which include Themes, Appearance, Colour, Placement/Position, and Navigation. Content to a Web Designer would refer to anything in relation to the aforementioned, focusing on what the web consumers will see, not necessarily what they will do – THE FACE. Web Development has to do with the creation of Software Applications and background instructions that are used in conjunction with the website. This includes Feedback Forms, Shopping Carts, Registers, and other content manipulation tools. Most of these application...

There are three standard stages websites go through when uploaded onto the Internet. These are Presence, Interaction, and Transaction. These are like a seasonal cycle a website goes through. Presence This is the stage at which a website is first introduced onto the Internet. At most, the idea is to make it known only. More effort is invested in retaining web consumers. The enterprise goes all the way to give freebies, infotainment and attractive webverts. Retention and Hit rate are very important at this stage. Many websites take up an informative behaviour, news being the most popular. It is not advisable to jump this stage, as this may cause premature growth, or future abortion. On the other hand, it is important to plan and have the second stage on standby. A good example of these scenarios is Amazon.com. When it was launched, Amazon.com could interact and transact and the same time. Their Retention and Hit rates were abnormally high that they had to shutdown for a while. Overwhelmi...

Websites are different, derived from their purpose. There are informative, Transactional, Referral, Behavioural, and Mixed. Informative Websites These are websites whose sole purpose is to provide information, whether commercial or academic. Websites that offer information for Commercial purposes usually sell their information. These websites require you to join a community, having paid a subscription. Most of these use the credit processing systems available, such as VISA and MasterCard. Websites that offer information for Academic use usually give out information for free. These include Public Databases, Archives, Community Institutions (e.g. Churches), and Government Departments, just to name a few. I came across an information website the other day, when I was looking for a template for a Shareholders Agreement. I visited the LawDepot.com website, which contains templates of legal documents. This website helps you build your desired Agreement. After filling in the template, the re...

If you have not watched this movie, the moral is that every Midfielder wished they could bend a football into the net or at the feet of a striker, like David Beckham. Question is, “Is this the only way to play winning football?” With this same thought, many Zimbabwean enterprises have adopted styles, structures, and content that they have not engineered, but copied. There is nothing wrong with copying, except when it limits an enterprise to unleash the greatness within them – thumbs up to Milton Kamwendo, on this subject. Beautiful Graphics Many websites in Zimbabwe are “very beautiful”, flamboyant, fully animated, and intriguingly spectacular. Are they successful? I know of a manufacturer whose website I have been trying to open for the past three years. No matter where I access the Internet, I have never seen their website. It has music in the background, and an opening count which reaches 100% but never opens. I tell you the truth, it is better to publish such a website as a .com ra...

Fellow Entrepreneurs, there is something unique about the Zimbabwean consumer, especially on the Internet. We are a nation that has been hit with various pressures – economic, social, spiritual and political. Each time I think about the hardships in our nation, I quickly remember those of USA in the late 1920s and early 30s – the Great Depression. When it ended, USA was never the same. They went into a boom, whose fruit is still being enjoyed to date. The 21st century USA could not have been, without the souls of the early 20th century, who helped transform the nation, by consuming the products and services. There is something about consumers in times of hardships, especially those that stand firm. I believe that knowing that special thing about Zimbabwe consumers will assist you in building a successful website. Literacy Have you ever wondered why it is so easy for Zimbabweans to adapt to new technologies? Notice how mobile phones, computers, satellite equipment, and DVD equipment, ha...

Because the Internet is not an academic priority in most Marketing Programmes in Zimbabwe, Web Marketing has been a nightmare for many marketers, seen by the inability to thrive online as they do offline. My first business mentor is one of Zimbabwe’s top Marketers, who took me up early 2003, when I quit my comfortable IT position at Zimpapers Natprint. I noticed that he was a student of online marketing ever since then, only to take up online business four years after, with a serious innovation, if I might add. I know another brilliant Marketer with more than ten world class food brands at her disposable, yet has only one website – a corporate website, that talks more about the company - Corporate Profile, than the products or its consumers. I will not mention bankers, clothing manufacturers, department stores, bookshops, car dealers, insurance institutes, asset managers, chemists, sports institutes, just to name a few. I love our marketers, but can not stand and watch them be overwhel...

Ko Zvaitasei? Is what my mother would shout out across the corridor, as Isabel, and I fought over one thing and the next. Her concern was harmony and happiness in the home. As my mother’s concern, Ko Zvaitasei, what has happened to Internet in Zimbabwe ? Internet has become a nightmare for the masses of Zimbabwe – Entrepreneurs, Consumers, Marketers, Government departments, and the IT Industry itself. The population of websites in Zimbabwe is less than mire 500, 000, making eCommerce a waste of effort. Those who look after websites, are not playing properly with those who make websites. Those who own websites are not satisfied with what they have. Those who consume website content are not interested with .CO.ZW sites as they are with .CO.ZA or .COMs. What has happened?

Our nation is on a verge of Telecommunications expansion and diversification, as the two major mobile operators Net*One and Econet transform into the GPRS and 3G platforms. Apart from offering more lines to consumers, these technologies have more benefits to be realized as they are platforms for more than just communication. There are four things that Information and Communication Technology, especially telecommunications, addresses in our time, that are vital to the progress of any economy – Media, Entertainment, Commerce, and Communication. WHAT IS GPRS? GPRS is a non-voice, value-added service that allows information to be sent and received across a regular GSM network. To understand the speed and versatility of GPRS, imagine having the connectivity of three Dial-up Internet Accounts, above the normal Voice connectivity, with both not suffering congestion. One benefit of GPRS is that it will allow customers to answer voice calls while in the middle of sending e-mails or viewi...

Registered Internet Service Providers Africa Online, Arachnid Design, Cyberplex Africa, Design@7, Ecoweb, E-World, Earth Internet, Global Internet, Goldnet, Harvey Micro Systems (HMS), MANGO, MWEB Zimbabwe, Reliant Computers, Roach Web Design, Taurai Zimbabwe, Telco Internet, Utande Internet Services, Venekera Works Technologies, Webdev, Web Solutions, Yo!Africa, Zambezi Net, ZARNet, Zimbabwe Internet Mail, Zimbabwe Online (ZOL), Zimbabwe Business Network (Zimbiz), Zimlink, ComOne, and PowerTel. Do you know how many internet providers there are in Zimbabwe . Zimbabwe ’s Internet Space is a platform for commerce and development, whose use has been increasing rapidly in recent years. A combination of technology innovation and services delivery within the ICT Industry world over, has affected even “small” Zimbabwe in enormous ways, resulting in Quality of Service for the Corporate and Home Internet Consumer. As at September 2006, there are 30 Registered Internet Service Providers...