- A South African content creator filmed himself outside a Food Lovers Market in Harare, calling out the surge of SA brands investing in Zimbabwe
- He mentioned brands like Pick n Pay, Spur, Nando's and Steers that have all set up shop in the Zimbabwean capital, surprising many viewers
- The clip sparked a heated debate online, with Zimbabweans divided over whether the investment signals real progress or something more complicated
Source: Instagram
A South African content creator has set the internet alight after posting a video from the car park of a Food Lovers Market in Harare, urging people to rethink their assumptions about Zimbabwe.
Bash Daniels, who goes by @brother_bash94 on Instagram, shared the clip on 14 October 2026. In it, he pointed to the store behind him and made a passionate case for Zimbabwe as a place worth taking seriously.
"If things are so bad," his caption read, "then why are SA companies seeing so much opportunity?"
He listed the brands he had personally encountered in Harare: Pick n Pay, Spur, Tiger's Milk, Steers, Rocomamas, Seattle Coffee Company and many others.
"Things are really happening in Harare," he said, adding that the roads had impressed him and the city felt cleaner than people might expect.
Zimbabwe's economy is quietly turning a corner
The enthusiasm in the video is backed by some hard numbers. According to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, Zimbabwe's GDP growth jumped from 1.7% in 2024 to an estimated range of 6% to 8.3% in 2025, driven by agricultural recovery and strong global commodity prices. Annual inflation, which had plagued the country for years, has fallen to between 2.9% and 4.7% in mid-to-late 2026, among the lowest rates in decades.
The introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency, combined with a multi-currency system allowing the US dollar through 2030, has helped stabilise exchange rates. Mining sectors covering lithium, gold and platinum continue to support export earnings.
That said, economists caution that these headline figures have not yet translated into relief for ordinary households. Public debt remains unsustainable, energy shortages persist, and the US dollar is still heavily preferred for everyday spending.
Watch the video that sparked the debate here.
Zimbabweans push back online
Not everyone was convinced, and the comments section on the Instagram page made that clear:
@kitisquared:
"Zim is great if you have money."
@josephnosipho:
"That's only in the rich sides of Harare. Emphasis on only in Harare. Try visiting other cities or the high-density areas of Harare and show us if it's all the same."
@justmr_t: "Roads are great 😅😅😅🫣"
@tawanda_ln:
"😂😂😂 The reason why Zim is improving is that 7 out of every 10 families have at least a family member living abroad sending money back."
@jninnebean:
"Appreciate your point! Love positive people, and there's always negative, and you can choose what you see, but to say Zim is improving just because it's developing isn't a good representation of what is happening in Zim."
@barth.sharon:
"One thing I can honestly say: Zim people are amazing."
@kel_nkosazana:
"Love a brick road. I haven't been to Zim since 2001. I was a kid. My mom and her family are from Harare. I'd love to go back! I've enjoyed your videos ❤️"
More on Zimbabwe and South Africa
- Briefly News recently reported that Zimbabwean bus driver Pummy Hadebe helped deliver a baby on a Glasgow bus and earned a major UK transport award.
- South Africans expressed frustration after learning that Zimbabwe owes SAA more than R900 million in outstanding debt.
- Footage of Zimbabwe’s first skatepark in Victoria Falls delighted viewers, although some raised concerns about skater safety.
Source: Briefly News
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