Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo
LOCAL firm, Genesys Corporation and the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Organisation (BVTO), are working on a collaborative digital initiative to drive formalisation and the development of informal traders and micro-enterprises.
The initiative aligns with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) policy targets.
The Smart Integrated Micro-Business Activation (SIMBA) digital platform, a mobile-first and web-enabled system is designed to make informal sector formalisation simple, accessible and non-disruptive, anchors the initiative.
SIMBA enables vendors and traders to register, create a formal profile and activate a business partner number in under 60 seconds, either through a smartphone application or via Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) on basic feature phones, ensuring inclusivity across all levels of digital access.
In an update, the two organisations said this system can be integrated into the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and local authorities’ administration platforms.
The system lowers barriers to entry and simplifies stakeholder engagement. SIMBA supports the gradual transition of informal economic activity into structured participation.
In doing so, the platform improves visibility of economic activity, enabling more accurate planning while contributing to the recovery of fiscal and municipal revenues that are currently difficult to capture due to informality.
The collaboration combines Bulawayo-based Genesys Corporation’s digital innovation and systems integration capabilities with BVTO’s grassroots reach within the trader community.
The initiative is positioned as a complementary tool to existing Government and local authority efforts, offering a practical mechanism to support livelihoods, compliance and economic participation without disrupting day-to-day trading activities.
Commenting on the initiative, Genesys Corporation chief executive officer, Mr Louis Herbst, said SIMBA is about making formalisation practical.
“By removing barriers and creating simple digital pathways, we enable traders to participate more fully in the economy while supporting improved planning and sustainable revenue outcomes at both local and national levels,” said Mr Herbst.
