It is time to adopt a New Mindset!
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol III, Issue #107 | Wednesday, July 15, 2020
This is a new version of RegionWeek Newsletter for the 3rd season( July-December 2020). The content targets Business leaders, Decision-makers, and Young professionals with interests in Burundi and East Africa. Subscribe to stay productive, and competitive in a pandemic and disrupted season.
Dear Readers,
On the 7th day of the mass screening campaign against COVID-19 in Bujumbura, out of 439 samples taken, only 3 are COVID-19 positive at all 3 sites, announced Dr. Jean Bosco, Ministry of Health spokesperson. But let’s take a look at key headlines first…
KEY HEADLINES
Burundi normalizing relation with WHO
Burundi government is normalizing relations with WHO after the expulsion of the country representative and its team in May 2020.
This Wednesday morning, the Representative a.i of WHO in Burundi Pr. Bah Keita accompanied by the Resident Coordinator of the UN system Mr. Conille Garry, was received by the Minister of Health Dr. Thadee Ndikumana.
Exchanges focused on the country's progress in the fight against COVID-19 in particular and the massive screening campaign in response to the President's policy. They reaffirmed their support to the Burundi government.
The Minister of Health also received the Deputy Representative of UNHCR Burundi, the UN Refugee Agency. The exchanges revolved around strategies to screen for COVID-19 and shorten the quarantine times for returnees.
Human Right Watch’s letter to President Ndayishimiye
In a letter to Burundi's new president, Human Rights Watch outlined 8 key recommendations to improve human rights during his first year in office. According to HRW leadership should ensure concrete human rights, democratic reforms, and accountability for past abuses.
We urge you to take strong, bold, and concrete steps – from early in your presidency – to mark a clear break with the abusive practices that characterized the former administration. We note the appointment of Prime Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni and Minister for the Interior, Community Development, and Public Security Gervais Ndirakobuca, both under international sanctions for their alleged role in violence in 2015, and urge you to ensure that criminal investigations into past abuses take place without interference,
President Ndayishimiye meets new Governors
The first meeting between the President of the Republic Evariste Ndayishimiye and the newly appointed Governors, took place early this Wednesday at Gitega Presidential Palace. On the agenda, were mainly briefings on how to eradicate COVID-19, Youth employment, Anti-corruption plans, Innovation in agriculture, and vocational school building.
President Ndayishimiye gave new vehicles to the Governors of all Burundi Provinces and the Mayor of the City of Bujumbura.
BUSINESS TALK
5 thing You can do for your Business to stay effective during and after COVID-15
If you are a business leader in a time like this you may be at the stage you face consistent changing experiences and wish to have more assistance and sound advice in this series we share key actions you may take to stay relevant and keep a competitive edge.
DAY 1. Adopt a new Mindset and Identify the priorities
The World is filled with uncertainty. While many things may be outside your control now, your mindset allows you to cope with difficult circumstances and face the unknown. As a Leader, in your business, there are things you can control and get some certainty. It is the time to refocus on what matters and get out of your business the unnecessary thing.
This partial reopening is an opportunity to adopt a positive mindset and a servant's heart. It is important to consistently connect with your customers to find out how they are doing and how you can help them. Customers sympathize with brands and business-facing crisis, take this opportunity, and create connections in a hard time connections that will last forever.
You also need to be honest with your team, everyone is going in this together and as a leader, there are quick questions you need to answer, this can help you and your teams to manage the temporary versus the long term.
What success looks like in the next 30 days?
It is crucial to get clarity on what success and failure mean for your business in the short-term. For many businesses, changes have been dramatic and many leaders failed to stay focused on their key objectives. Defining what to expect allows you to remain flexible and to adjust easily.
What are the urgent decisions you need to take?
Should you do more sales activity or pivot your products. It is important to address the cash shortage risk by identifying expenses that can be reduced or operation that can be temporary paused. You can also identify how to pivot your product or services that are not selling well.
What are your numbers?
You need also to identify products or services selling well that you can focus on to increase cash coming into your business. Here the great question to ask yourself is how long it can take your business to go negative on cash flow then you need to adjust accordingly.
ACTION LIST
List top 3 primary sources of revenue
List the top 10 operating costs and how you can renegotiate
List products or services you need to pivot and adapt to the new market requirements and opportunities.
Thank you for reading, please let us know what you think. If we judge that our readers will enjoy your views we will share the note here. Send a message at editor@regionweek.com
Your servant,
Fabrice Iranzi, RegionWeek.com
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