TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
Government is committed to promoting youth entrepreneurs to be able to navigate the market challenges, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Mthuli Ncube, has said.
He made the remarks at a recent Youth Entrepreneurship and Business Expo held in Bulawayo.
Ncube said the networking platform provides “us with an opportunity for aspiring and established youths, to network and motivate one another”.
“It is the ideal platform to stimulate business growth and motivate both current and aspiring entrepreneurs. This is also a continuation of the youth ministry’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship and engagement in the socio-economic development of the country as envisaged in the National Youth Policy,” he said.
The managing director of Youth Network Connect Philimon Nyirenda said young people were a tremendous and essential asset worth investing in.
“We will invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyse job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant communities,” he said.
The call to support the youth comes as ICT deputy minister, Dingumuzi Phuthi, urged employers in Bulawayo to consider providing youths with employment opportunities to help curb increasing drug abuse cases in the city.
“It is sad that most employers only want to employ those with University degrees and experienced ones. Who then is going to employ the fresh graduates and those with only certificates or diplomas from such kinds of institutions?”
He made the remarks after officiating at a graduation ceremony for 200 youths who went through a six-month digital skills training in Bulawayo under a project called Bulawayo Learn and Earn.
The project was funded by USAID and implemented by World Food Programme, Plan International and National University of Technology.
“We can only take our country on the map if we work together collaboratively”. I am reliably informed that these youths managed to do each one of them a project meant to solve a particular social problem.
“Some have already grown their ideas further to form partnerships and are already contesting for recognition in various business enterprises,” he said.
Provincial area manager for Plan International Noreen Makhurane said: “One thing I liked about this programme is that it showed everyone that it is possible for a youth without any academic qualifications to excel in life. Most of the youths that we recruited did not have any Ordinary Level qualifications, but they are now empowered.
“There are some groups that created interesting innovations that we are going to fund with US$1 500 each. This will support their innovations and test them so that they can slowly pave their way in the creative industry, he said.
