Bulawayo chosen as host for national young entrepreneurs competition

JUNIOR Chamber International (JCI) Zimbabwe launched its flagship 2026 Creative Young Entrepreneurs (CYE) Competition in Bulawayo last week, spotlighting the city’s industrial legacy while unveiling a national drive for transformative innovation.

Chido Cleopatra Katsvanga, JCI Bulawayo Executive Vice President and 2026 CYE Director, welcomed attendees, setting the stage for a landmark announcement. Local JCI President Bhekumuzi Brandon Tshuma declared Bulawayo as the host city for the prestigious national CYE programme – a first in the competition’s history.

Tshuma hailed this as a revival of the city’s DNA: “Bulawayo has always been Zimbabwe’s industrial hub. From manufacturing to engineering, textiles to innovation, this city was built by makers, builders, and dreamers. Hosting CYE is not just an event. It is a homecoming – returning entrepreneurship to its rightful place in our story.”

Tshuma emphasised Bulawayo’s 2026 theme “Different!”, framing CYE as a rejection of copied models: “It’s about that unique solution only you can create. We’re unleashing a generation to build industries and put Zimbabwe back on top.”

JCI Zimbabwe National President Nyengeterai Faith Muzamhindo launched the programme under the global theme “Reimagining the World”, directly linking it to the UN Sustainable Development Goals:

“We empower young leaders to create positive change,” Muzamhindo stated. “Reimagining requires challenging norms and embracing innovation – the heart of both CYE and the UN’s global transformation goals.”

Targeting entrepreneurs focused on critical challenges like climate change mitigation, poverty-alleviating business models, and Zimbabwe-led technological breakthroughs, this programme provides winners with comprehensive support—including mentorship from industry leaders, specialised capacity-building training, investment access, and cross-sector networking—to amplify their impact. Affirming that “entrepreneurship drives sustainable development,” Muzamhindo issued dual calls to action: inviting mission-aligned businesses to partner in this movement, while urging young innovators to apply immediately via the programme’s social media channels.

The CYE launch in Bulawayo signals a strategic investment in the city’s industrial rebirth while positioning Zimbabwean youth at the forefront of SDG-aligned innovation. As Tshuma rallied: “Bring us your different. The city is ready to make history.”

Known for its mandate to develop world-class leaders, JCI’s Bulawayo chapter called on men to shun toxic masculinity, something that has deteriorated men’s mental health during a Round Table held at a local hotel in Bulawayo in 2024. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu