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THE heading above was initially a strong one.

I had to tone it down so that SMEs do not go on a defensive and fight back mode thus missing my initial objective of informing and advising.

The truth shall set us free.

Just to handle the politics of the biggest sector I had to change the subject heading from the initial SMEs SHAPE UP OR SHUT UP!!

I know it is a screaming heading and at times that is what you need to drive a point home.

We cannot be all emotional if one points out something that is wrong in the sector.

Zimbabwe consists of 80 percent SMEs that is in business there are two types of businesses SMEs and others or someone said its either you are an SME or you are a parastatal.

That mourning, whining, winging, sense of entitlement is just unbelievable.

The environment is what it is and blaming or name calling does not change anything at all as an individual SME.

It is about time SMEs took advantage of their numbers and push for their interests as a group and partake in the economy in every aspect from regularizing their operations to strategic management to encourage growth into big companies.

What is in a name?
Maybe SMEs is a cursed name, we need to change it to emerging businesses because it seems it weighs us down and makes us want to think and remain small and medium only .

Order is the first Law in Heaven.
Registration and complying with regulations makes central and local governments happy and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) excited to the betterment of country economy.

So, this disorder is not in the best interests of SMEs.

Cleanliness which is next to Godliness is to be encouraged to give the sector that look.

Where there is no order and neatness, it compromises performance.

We need to take pride in our operations.

Once that is done, then it is easy to then articulate your wants and needs to central government  or local government.

SMEs worst enemy is his fellow SMEs.

SMEs worst nightmare is themselves as they are their own headaches.

One SME is a registered trader the other is not but is plying their trade side by side on the same premises thus creating an unfair advantage.

Other players are not paying their rentals to the other SME who owns the building.

As SMEs, we are importing goods or services that our neighbour can produce and please do not try to justify by mentioning price/quality/ availability.

That is secondary in the grand scheme of things.

We are chief culprits in increasing the import bill on non essentials and if it is capital goods we can understand otherwise it is nonsensical.

Who is the biggest cross boarder trader after government?

We import finished clothes when next door there is a manufacturing concern of good quality.

We are smuggling in small quantities as individuals (sum total is significant) yet we complain of same if done by major players.

We do corruption in small proportions (but we SMEs are too many) to the detriment of our business environment but ironically we are cantankerous  and quarrelsome about the environment.

We do not pay taxes but expect to get funding but from who.

One SME borrows but doesn’t pay back only for Banks to tighten lending conditions to the entire sector.

SMEs are a let down in major tenders then we are painted with the same brush.

Let’s not be emotional and get defensive we are talking about most of the SMEs of course we have some that are excellent but being affected by the majority .We commend the ones doing their level best .

If SMEs were organised and regulated with their numbers wouldn’t they have ‘ bribed ‘ Zimra to concede to favourable and relevant taxation regime on the sector?

Wouldn’t they have ‘ bullied ‘ government into enacting laws that favour them?

Wouldn’t they have ‘arm twisted ‘ local government into housing them into world class structures if there was order and compliance?

They would have lobbied for affordable levies and fees of compliance.

Wouldn’t the banks have reduced their ‘ sinful’ rates if SMEs spoke with one voice and paid back monies borrowed from these institutions.

Can you imagine the funding that will have gone into the sector if there were no shenanigans from the sector itself, big as it is.

The biggest economy is in the hands of SMEs either formal or otherwise

Due to tower light syndrome most SMEs do not share information and reduce the synergies that come with coming together and leveraging on the economies of scale.

Their existence is always short lived.

Wait and see syndrome make SMEs lose out on opportunities as they arise but later on cry foul.

5 o’clock syndrome has made SMEs lose more trading revenues due to limited trading or traditional trading hours.

No one wants to act outside the box.

Harare syndrome for SMEs has meant people do not take up opportunities arguing it is a Harare thing and thus lose out on opportunities that would be low hanging fruits and once missed that is it .

Microwave syndrome has dictated no strategic planning as everything is done as an emergency  (khonapho khonapho) and this is detriment to SMEs operations.

PHD (pull him down) Syndrome has seen SMEs pull each other down thus no meaningful growth in the sector thus giving SMEs a bad name.

Me and  I syndrome has left individual SMEs economical vulnerable.

Ostrich syndrome has left SMEs not appreciating the environment they operate in and has compromised the growth into bigger companies.

Cut and paste syndrome has seen parroted goods and services and thus competed profits affecting viability.

Too much of one line of trade is risky.

Government  has put in intervention activities but how many SMEs partake in these?

As for Matabeleland  North do not even say a word because we are the chief culprits followed by Matabeleland in general and Bulawayo.

Whether it is fear or just ignorance it makes my heart bleed at the lackadaisical to no uptake on these noble initiatives.

Most SMEs are politicians but still complain about political economics policies.

Surely, SMEs in their numbers, in their respective political circles can speak and lobby political integration and intervention to the benefit of their sector.

SMEs have the political and economic clout yet are always complaining in a country where democratic rights are for the majority.

Really what do SMEs want?  
You are SMEs first before you belong to any political party.

Please this is not politics but political economics.

Not being organised is not the problem of anyone but SMEs themselves.

Government is ‘selfish, private companies are,  so is Zimra and local government.

We do not understand why SMEs cannot be “selfish”  and worry about their own interests fully. Why can’t SMEs look out for their own?

None but SMEs themselves can free themselves from perpetual stigmatisation of stunted growth.

All these stakeholders work together for the common good.

In the same manner, as SMEs are demanding minimum levels of responsibility and accountability from the government,  we also need to see that log in our eyes before we demand such from others.

Let us shape up and it will be infectious to every economic actors.

Imagine if SMEs registered their businesses, paid taxes , shunned corruption , kept clean records, saved,  banked their proceeds, used best practice methods , had strategic minds,  adhered to corporate governance, practiced community responsibility etc this will be an economic utopia .

After this article, we know, we at MoB Capital might not be popular with some SMEs but cash talk kills no friendship.

And this is no longer a populist contest it is about being real and giving each other candid advice for the much needed survival in the sector.

The evidence above shows that we as SMEs are our own downfall thus my statement please SMEs SHAPE UP OR KEEP QUIET.

We know the truth hurts sometimes.

If you live in Bulawayo Please Conserve Water     If you live in Zimbabwe please use electricity sparingly: Sos (Switch Off Switches). If you live on planet earth please preserve the environment.