We could have a credit checking system in place now to vet current and
future debtors but 5 years ago we could because we did not have credit
facilities in place in retail outlets.
Not sure if you mean that we did not have facilities as-in service.
Just to mention that a retail credit checking system (as-in process) was active and functioning very well until hyperinflation affected all credit-related purchases. I am not privy of what systems they used(if they did) and whether they were networked but it certainly was centralised. Remember the infamous "Black Book"? Zim was certainly way ahead in terms of financial organisation and we were just about to leap into the ICT revolution and then got hit by politics and the eventual decline of the economy.
For financial services, the BAZ spoke of establishing a bureau last year. I've also heard of one or two privately held bureaus