Age no barrier to empowerment

Dotito, Mount Darwin, empowerment means unlimited potential.

She says when one is empowered and determined nothing can stop them from realising their dreams. A Lower Sixth pupil at Mount Darwin High School, Shumbayarerwa is a beneficiary of the Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund.

Hers is like a fairytale as she almost dropped out of school because her widowed mother could no longer afford to pay school fees for her and her younger brothers. But now at 19, she is a proud owner of a grocery shop at Dotito Growth Point and proof that success is not determined by age but by opportunities like the youth empowerment programmes.

Though she only got US$1 500 her shop is well stocked with basic commodities that include cooking oil, sugar, salt, laundry and bathing soap, matches, candles and clothing.

“Before I wrote O-Level examinations in 2011, my mother told me there was a possibility that I could not proceed with my education since she no longer had money to pay for my fees.

“She gave me US$20 and told me to find something to do with it so that I could assist her with paying the fees. “I bought snacks, sweets and popcorn that I would resell to school kids. I had stopped going to school then,” she said.

Shumbayarerwa would sell her merchandise and get US$10 on a good day. She then raised enough money to pay for her fees. Nothing could stop her from continuing with her small business and looked for a small shop to rent at Dotito Growth Point.

“I started renting that shop across the road and it was only stocked with popcorn, snacks and soft drinks.
“I would still get US$10 per day because people would come looking for basic commodities, which I unfortunately did not have in stock. I also did not have enough money to buy the basic commodities,” she said.

And then one day, her mother heard about Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund and shared the news with her. Shumbayarerwa immediately made her move and applied for the loan in January 2012.

“I did not think that a rural girl like me would be considered for the loans. In any case, rumour had it that the required number of applicants was already overflowing. I applied for US$3 000 and got US$1 500 in July that same year,” she added.
Shumbayarerwa has never looked back.

“I am encouraging other youths, especially orphans, to work hard and not just sit and cry over their unfortunate situation.
“Indigenisation is good because it uplifts people like me who have limited resources,” she added.

In the next five years, Shumbayarerwa wants to build her own premises from where she can operate her grocery shop, employ other youths in Dotito and work hard so that her business grows bigger.

“Competition is very stiff especially from other businesspeople who get groceries on credit from wholesalers and sell at much lower prices. This sometimes affects my sales and I really have to pull up my socks to keep up with the competition. I will never give up,” added Shumbayarerwa.

Her mother Bertha praised the youth empowerment programme saying while it uplifts youths financially, it also takes them away from the vices that come with unemployment. Rotick Mafunga (27), who also received US$1 000 from the Youth Fund, says his life has greatly changed.

He makes ox-drawn carts, window and door frames, among other things. He was already in the welding business but all was bleak as he operated from Sohwe, 13 kilometres from Dotito Growth Point.

“I did not have grinders, drills and enough materials for my business and would struggle to get customers. “The carts I made were from poor quality materials and would break down easily. Life was difficult and I could sometimes sell my grandmother’s livestock just to make ends meet.

But now things have changed and I am happy,” he said.
Mafunga now operates from Dotito Growth Point and rents a small section of a shop.

“The quality of the carts I make has improved. I now sell three to four carts a month each pegged at US$600. I have managed to buy a housing stand and always keep some materials in stock. Business is good,” he said. Mafunga has not yet employed anyone and hopes to do so at the beginning of next year.

He, however, said the administrators of the fund are rather slow when it comes to disbursement and this has somehow affected recipients.
“I deal with farmers who want things at a certain time when they have money. My target was January but I only got money in March.

“Delaying the distribution of money means that I will miss my set targets,” he explained.
Mafunga is repaying US$88 per month over three years.

“I am encouraging youths to apply for these funds and not to despair if they do not get money immediately. There is nothing as sweet as self-sustenance and I would like to thank Zanu- PF for coming up with such a brilliant idea,” he added.

A number of youths have also lamented the slow processing and failure to access the fund. Others like Teclar Mashumba (35) of Trojan Mine, Bindura, said the wait has rather been too long.

She was 34 when she applied for the youth funds last year.
She has been unfortunate as she has not yet received the funding since she is awaiting CABS officials to visit her business site.

“CABS officials called me last year and congratulated me saying my application had been successful. They called me the second time and told me to immediately come to Kimberly Reef where an official handover to those whose applications had succeeded was to take place.

“We immediately went and were congratulated by Minister (Saviour)Kasukuwere who was happy that we received the funds,” she said.
Following this, CABS officials who were at the event told Mashumba and others to all go to their bank in Bindura CBD so that they would visit their project sites.

“They went to inspect several sites in Bindura light industry, and also visited a butchery project in Chipadze.
“The CABS officials also wanted to see other projects at Bindura flea market and then go with me where my horticulture project is.

“I waited for them at TM and they finally came and told me it was late and could no longer visit my site. They said they would come back another day,” she added.

One week, then two and three weeks passed, and the CABS officials were nowhere to be seen.
“I made a follow-up on the visit. The manager referred me to Harare. Upon calling the Harare offices, I was told that they could not come for me alone and would wait for more people from my area. I am still waiting and fear I may not get the money since I am now 35. My question to the administrators of the fund is what happens now? My application was approved when I was 34, I am now 35 and still haven’t received the money,” she said.

Mashumba explained how the fund could have improved both her horticulture business and livelihood had she received it.
“I was aiming high and wanted to buy a upump for irrigation.

“I need a lot of water for the crops I grow.
“I was already in this horticulture business making US$2 000 in a good month. Getting the loans could have helped me broaden my market to areas like Harare and Showgrounds. I have been focusing on Bindura only,” she added.

Mashumba says she has no hard feelings despite not getting the loan yet.
“The youth empowerment programme is good. I have seen those who have benefited from it and I am impressed by how their life has changed,” she noted.

Women empowerment has been the issue of hot debate in African countries where females are suppressed and confined within the four walls of the house.

Even under the Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund not many women have benefited from the funds.
According to the Zimbabwe Youth Council, the Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund has now resolved to prioritise the funding of young women’s projects as current statistics show a huge discrepancy between funded male projects compared to those of their female counterparts.

With statistics showing that out of the almost US$5 000 000 distributed to date only 35 percent had gone towards supporting young women’s projects, the fund’s trustees resolved to come up with plans to ensure uptake by young women.

“Efforts to clear the backlog have heightened so that all proposals are processed including those by young men or both before the drive to encourage young women can be heightened.

“Programmes to encourage young women to apply and also get trained will begin soon through the Zimbabwe Youth Council, young women’s associations and clubs and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs,” says the ZYC website.

“The Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund is one of the most popular youth empowerment initiatives by Government in recent years.
The Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment has been economically empowering the youth and facilitating their participation in the mainstream economy.

Through their partnership with Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited and CABS to create opportunities for youth empowerment, youths like Shumbayarerwa have received assistance to boost their existing businesses.

She can now confidently and actively participate in the mainstream economy combating the youth unemployment scourge.
How it works
The Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund targets young people from between 18 and 35 years old and the maximum threshold for the loans is US$5 000.
Areas that have received funding so far include manufacturing, agriculture, distribution, services, telecommunications, engineering, tourism, mining and retail.

Loan application forms are being obtained from CABS, Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment offices of the Zimbabwe Youth Council.

Required when applying is a business plan, certified copy of valid identity card or passport; one passport size photo; certified copy of local current residence for applicant(s); certified copies of founding documentation; certificate of incorporation/private business corporation (for existing businesses only); memos and articles for limited liability companies (for existing companies only); CR14; partnership deeds (for existing partnerships only); certified copy of bank statement — three months (where available); certified copy of tax clearance/vat certificate (for existing business only); certified copy of financial statements (for existing business only); supplier invoices will be required upon approval of loans to ensure ease loan payments.

“It should be noted that the fund is a revolving fund therefore there is need for proper management and accountability so as to reduce the defaulting rate thereby increasing access of the fund to the majority of young people,” says ZYC.

Assessment before funding is therefore critical so as to ensure that the right applicants do get access the fund and are in a position to repay the loan and also move a step ahead in terms of their own development and that of the nation as a whole, the ZYC warns.

Their website further says those who have failed to get the funds are either over 34, or could have provided inadequate information on their business plan, their project does not show viability, project sector not as listed e.g. commodity broking, environmental, social, economic or political considerations which might have a bearing on the running of the project; improper management background by the proprietor (s), low or no employment creation potential and lack of sound financial   background.

If the success stories of those who have benefited so far are the way to go, then let youth indigenisation be the food of life.

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