Zimbabweans are hustlers. From tech start ups to poultry farms , from roadside vendors selling tomatoes to families pouring diaspora remittances into half finished houses, our people know how to build. Our hands, our sweat, and our resilience fuel the dream. Hustling is in our DNA. But here’s the uncomfortable truth, too often, our dreams die with us. What we build doesn’t always outlive us. Sometimes it unravels the very moment we’re gone. Walk through Harare any morning and you will see that we don’t lack work ethic. We don’t lack ideas. What we lack is continuity.

It has been recognized worldwide that the real test of entrepreneurial skill is not just starting a business, but building one that lasts beyond a single generation. Research shows that family businesses are the foundation of many global economies. In Zimbabwe, too, some of our most successful ventures can be traced back to family owned enterprises.

The truth is Zimbabwe is now an SME economy, roughly 80% of businesses are family owned SMEs. SMEs contribute more than 60% of Zimbabwe’s GDP. A FinScope survey found that MSMEs contribute nearly USD 8.6 billion to the national GDP. But here is the uncomfortable truth around, 85% of these businesses collapse within just a few years. Only 15% survive past the early stages. And even fewer make it into the second generation.Think about that, all the hours, all the grinding, all the sacrifice gone, often within months of the founder’s death.

We’ve seen it play out too many times. Families that once had thriving businesses end up in disputes. Beloved names disappear from our communities. Black family businesses that were once the envy of many  the Machipisas, the Makomvas, the Mwayeras  have either disappeared or are no longer. The same story repeats itself in kombi businesses, grocery shops, and even modern start-ups. When the founder dies, there’s no plan. Children fight. Spouses are left out. Properties are sold off. Court cases drag for years.We call it “bad luck.” It is not. It is poor planning.

Around the world, the most enduring business dynasties be they Indian, Jewish, Asian, or European share a relentless focus on generational continuity. They talk openly about succession. They set up:

1. Family Constitutions: Written value systems, business objectives, governance rules, and clear lines of decision-making.
2. Trusts and Wills: To ensure legal, efficient, and protected wealth transfer
3. Succession Plans: Naming successors, clarifying roles, and providing mentorship
4. Dispute Resolution Pathways: So disagreements don’t destroy what families built

Practical Steps for Every Zimbabwean Entrepreneur

1. Start the Conversation: Don’t leave succession to fate. Bring all stakeholders, spouses, children, business partners,into open dialogue.
2. Document Everything: Write out business processes, contacts, and crucial information. Prepare a simple but clear succession roadmap.
3. Craft a Family Constitution: Clarify your family’s values, dispute resolution pathways, ownership structures, and employment policy for family members. Templates and professional help are now available in Zimbabwe for this purpose.
4. Set Up  Legal Structures: Consult  legal advisors about family trusts. This protects assets and ensures smooth continuity.
5. Mentor the Next Generation: Invest in leadership, not just inheritance. Prepare successors through involvement and gradual handover.
6. Review and Update: Schedule annual reviews of the plan as the business and family circumstances change.
7. Seek Professional Guidance: Tap into the growing network of Zimbabwean legal, accounting, and business advisors specialising in SME succession. Many provide checklists, templates, and workshops.

Hustle without continuity is a gift half given it blesses one generation and burdens the next. With clear plans, open dialogue, and practical governance, Zimbabwean families can transform their business dreams into enduring legacies. Who will inherit your hustle? The answer is the plan you begin today.Even a single house, kombi, or informal shop is a seed of legacy.

BY MUFARO CHITAKUNYE