Chronicle EditorMelissa Makoto Herald Reporter
DIVERSIFIED financial services group CBZ Holdings has launched the second edition of the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (YEP) aimed at assisting young people who want to venture into business. As part of the assistance, CBZ would be holding seminars in various provinces, educating young people on how to start businesses. Youths aged between 18 and 35 gathered at Jubilee Christian Centre in Harare for the launch on Thursday.
In an interview on the sidelines of the launch, CBZ senior manager (group marketing) Mr Joel Gombera said the programme started last year with an investment of $48 000.
He said this year they increased the investment to $110 000.
“YEP has a major investment of $110 000 for the year 2017, up from $48 000 in 2016,” he said.
“In partnership with the Empowered Life Trust, CBZ Holdings Youth Entrepreneurs Programme is a practical and results-based initiative to produce growth-oriented, not survivalist, but profitable businesses that are run professionally by youth from all 10 provinces in Zimbabwe.
“YEP is nurturing a new generation of growth-oriented businesspersons and any young Zimbabwean graduating from universities, colleges and high schools have no option but to become entrepreneurs due to lack of employment.”
Mr Gombera said the programme sought to improve youths, including those in the rural areas, through offering business opportunities.
He said last year there were over 1 000 youths who received training.
“The 2016 edition saw over 1 000 young people from the country’s 10 provinces receiving extensive training,” said Mr Gombera.
“Twenty received seed money to inject into their businesses. Pinky Mudzingwa from Midlands walked away with the top prize of $3 000.”
The 2017 edition comes with a top prize of $10 000, while the first runner up and second runner up will walk away with $7 500 and $5 000 respectively.
The programme will involve two-day outreach training in all the provinces.
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