Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, has called on young people, to embrace legal income-generating activities such as hairdressing, saying no one should be discouraged from pursuing honest work.
He made the remarks yesterday in Dodoma while officiating Hairdressers’ Day, an event organised by Chido Point that brought together hairdressers from across the country for exhibitions and competitions.
“According to the national employment policy, any legal work that generates income for an individual is considered employment. Hairdressing employs thousands of youths in Tanzania and deserves support, improvement and proper recognition,” said Mr Mavunde.
He added that hairdressing can help both young women and men become self-reliant and reduce dependency.
To strengthen the sector, he said, the government through the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) has begun offering short courses in hairdressing to help youths who had been learning informally acquire professional skills and improve their economic status.
Mr Mavunde also stressed the need to integrate hairdressing into formal school curricula from lower levels, so that students graduate with employable skills, helping to tackle the country’s unemployment challenge.
“I have met many young men in hairdressing who are doing well. The only problem is negative public perception. We should give them a chance and support them,” he said, urging society to stop judging young men who pursue the profession.
Founder of Hairdressers’ Day and owner of Chido Point, Maria Mwampanga said the initiative seeks to help hairdressers recognise the value of their work, strengthen unity and create opportunities to access government and private loans.
For her part, the Head of the Gender Desk in Dodoma Region, Christet Kayombo, encouraged hairdressers to uphold integrity in their workplaces to challenge negative stereotypes that salons are places of gossip.
She also urged women to stand firm in raising children to strengthen family values. A hairdresser from Dodoma city, Frank Mwingira, shared his personal journey in the profession.
He said he began practising at a young age after observing his mother and sisters, despite strong opposition from people who believed hairdressing was unsuitable for men.
“Today, people understand me better. This work has greatly helped my family and those who once looked down on me are now my clients,” said Mwingira.
The event was launched to support both employed and self-employed hairdressers, highlighting how the beauty industry has become a growing source of jobs for young people across Tanzania.
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