Why We Built Ndarama

When most Zimbabweans hear words like “asset tokenisation” or “blockchain,” the reaction is often the same:This sounds complicated. This sounds technical. This sounds like it’s not meant for me.

For years, new financial products have been introduced using complex language and abstract ideas, while the lived reality for ordinary people has remained unchanged. Credit is difficult to access. Investment opportunities are reserved for those with large amounts of capital.

Ownership in productive sectors of the economy is restricted to a small group. Ndarama was not built to follow trends or impress technologists. It was built out of a very practical frustration.

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Too many people are locked out — not because they are irresponsible, but because the system was never designed for them. For a long time, I have deposited cash into my bank account every month — consistently and without fail. Yet when I applied for credit, I did not qualify.

Not because I was unreliable.Not because I had a history of default. But because I did not have formal collateral or an official payslip. Zimbabwe’s economy is largely informal, yet most financial systems still rely on rigid definitions of employment and collateral.

Millions of people earn honestly, save consistently, and manage their money responsibly — but remain invisible to the system. That exclusion is not just unfair. It limits economic participation and slows growth.

Ndarama exists to challenge that reality. At its core, Ndarama is simple. It allows ordinary people to invest small amounts of money — starting from as little as one dollar — into real, professionally managed assets such as property, agriculture, or energy projects. That investment represents real ownership.

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