The Price of Trust
When Familiar Faith Becomes Financial Risk
In Zimbabwe’s evolving investment landscape, trust is both our greatest strength and our biggest risk.
Every day, small acts of trust keep the economy moving from the kombi ride to the corner grocery. You hand over a US $1 note; the conductor gives you ZiG change without counting. You don’t check. Tomorrow, you’ll use the same notes for another ride. It’s an unspoken system built on habit and familiarity and it works because we’ve all kept our side of the bargain.
But as Zimnat Asset Management we believe the same reflex that keeps our streets running can quietly undo us when the stakes are financial. True prosperity demands that the same confidence we show in daily life be matched by verification when our money is at work
When Everyday Trust Becomes Costly
Post-COVID, many people found themselves rebuilding from scratch.
Side hustles multiplied. Savings circles grew. WhatsApp groups became the new financial frontier. The intention was honest to make money work harder. But some of these ventures traded on our instincts to believe the familiar.
The neighbour who once sold groceries now “trades forex.” A friend invites you to a “short-term investment club.” Someone shares screenshots of payouts that look convincing enough.
And just like that, trust becomes currency until it costs us.
Fast Returns Are the First Red Flag
Real investments take time because they’re bound by process audited, regulated, and reviewed. There’s paperwork, oversight, and sometimes delays. That’s what makes them safe.
Scams, on the other hand, rely on speed. They want you to act before you think.
They promise “guaranteed” returns, create fear of missing out, and flash early-bird success stories to draw you in.
If profits appear faster than they can logically grow, that’s not efficiency, it’s engineering.
Five Simple Checks That Protect You
- Confirm the licence. Always verify with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZ) or relevant regulator.
- Interrogate the returns. If the numbers look too good, they probably are.
- Watch the structure. If earnings depend on recruiting others, it’s a pyramid scheme.
- Insist on documentation. Legitimate investments leave a paper trail, not just a chat thread.
- Know the law. The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has banned unregulated alluvial mining sponsorships. “Helping miners” can expose you to penalties, not profits.
Why Trust Needs Boundaries
Trust is a social strength; it keeps communities alive. But in finance, trust without verification becomes vulnerability.
It’s not cynicism to ask questions; it’s stewardship.
Responsible investors don’t assume; they confirm.
The same confidence that lets us pass a kombi conductor change without counting should be matched by discipline when the stakes are higher.
Accountability Is the New Confidence
Safe investing isn’t fast, but it’s firm.
It means your money is managed by licensed professionals, held by custodians, and governed by transparent reporting. It’s the kind of system that lets you sleep at night and plan years ahead.
That’s what genuine prosperity looks like not luck, not shortcuts, but structure.
Trust is one of Zimbabwe’s most valuable currencies. We live by it, trade through it, and rebuild with it.
But when it comes to investing, trust should never travel alone. Pair it with verification, and your faith becomes protection.
Because in finance, the price of blind trust is always higher than the promise of fast returns.
About Zimnat Asset Management
Zimnat Asset Management is a licensed investment manager under the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe. It is a member of the Masawara Holdings group of companies. We advocate for transparent, accountable investing that protects and grows the wealth of Zimbabweans who choose to plan with care and confidence.