Buy Zimbabwe in partnership with Elevate Trust of Zimbabwe have established a youth desk in an initiative that will see theorganisations compiling a database of young people between the ages of eighteen to twenty five who have established businesses in Zimbabwe.
Elevate Trust is a youth leadership organisation runningprogrammes that facilitate youth development in innovation, entrepreneurship and careers, under the universal theme, ‘Science Pays.’
Speaking to Great Dyke News 24 Elevate Trust Director Sicelo Dube said the programme will assist the youth by linking them to the markets with a particular focus on the mining and public procurement sectors as well as the general manufacturing sector.
“Where in Zimbabwe can you go and find a database with young people, right now if a young person sets up a business they don’t only struggle with finding capital, but they struggle with being connected to the market.
“This relationship with Buy Zimbabwe will enable us to have a one stop place where Zimbabwean youths will have a place of reference and we can together plan, monitor and see how we are impacting on the group of young entrepreneurs,” she said.
Buy Zimbabwe Chairman and founder Munyaradzi Hwengwere appealed to the Buy Zimbabwe members to be part of the initiative and help the young entrepreneurs with proper certification.
“Like the rest of Africa, over fifty percent of our population are young people and the sustenance of Buy Zimbabwe is based on young people realizing that their jobs and their wealth are invested locally.
“We surely cannot expect to win in African continental trade when we are not winning locally with our people and this youth desk has been long overdue.
“We are now moving with a fast pace to make sure that we collect and build a database for the youth and we are appealing to all our members to make sure that all these young people who will have secured the necessary certifications are supported on the market,” he said.
