Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs toured five youth-led businesses to witness progress made through youth funding.
The Ministry toured the businesses together with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committees in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs. The tour also included the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF), a parastatal that helps the youth to start different businesses.
Njabulo Dlamini, a farmer from Gebeni received E50 000 in 2023. He started with three fields and expanded this year. Dlamini is using water diverted from the Zimunene River to water his crops, which include cabbage, sweet potato, peri-peri and spinach. “A special Thanks to my chiefdom and the Youth Fund, I now even own a house,” he said. Njabulo also highlighted the effects of climate change as a major challenge. “I once planted onions, but heavy rains destroyed everything,” he said.
In a move to address climate related challenges affecting farmers like Njabulo, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the Training of Trainers Workshop on Enhancing Forecasting Capacities and Developing Crop Capability Prediction Tools in Eswatini. The SADC wide initiative brings together experts in climate science, agriculture, and disaster risk reduction to strengthen climate-smart farming.
At Vusweni, Buhle Zishwili (37) has grown her piggery from two houses to nine after receiving E50 000. Recently, she supplied 18 porkers to Pick n Pay. She credited her mentor and called for price regulation on animal feed. The Minister supported her call and proposed creating supply chains among farmers for better market access.
In Sigombeni, 25-year-old Noncedo Dlamini expressed deep gratitude for the support she received to start her rural grocery shop. “My community no longer has to travel to Manzini for basic goods. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Youth Fund for trusting me with E50 000,” she said. The shop has since given birth to a home based agribusiness. Noncedo currently employs two people at the shop and two others in her agribusiness at home.
Sibonginkhosi Malindzisa from Matsapha, Eswatini College of Technology (ECOT) graduate, used E100 000 to start an automotive repair business. “I used to struggle meeting demand. Now I have stock and almost everything that I need. Currently, I have hired a receptionist and an assistant mechanic,” he said.
At Red Apple Technology in Matsapha, Majaha Nkambule develops mobile apps, including ‘MoLink,’ which helps facilitate money transfers. “In some rural areas, people struggle with FNB eWallet, and that’s where MoLink comes in, it helps transfer funds from FNB eWallet to MTN MoMo,” he said. With support from the Youth Fund, his company now employs five people and manages cashless payments for local events.
The Youth Fund’s impact was evident throughout the tour, with funded businesses creating jobs, solving community challenges, and driving innovation. YERF CEO Mandla Nkambule revealed that 120 youth-led enterprises have been supported. He emphasized that when young people are empowered, the entire country benefits.
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