Youth organisation expands operations

In the past, the organisation has concentrated its operations in Harare and Mashonaland region.
The pressure group has now put in place a structure in Matabeleland.
The organisation’s Matabeleland region’s spokesperson,  Cde Hail Hudson, told Chronicle on Tuesday that they were on the ground mobilising youths in the region to take advantage of the Government’s empowerment policy and create their own businesses.

“We will officially launch our operations in Matabeleland region next month. At the moment we are mobilising  the youths to prepare for the launch. As youths we need to speak with one voice on issues of empowerment,” said Cde Hudson.
“For a long time there have been concerns over the issue of marginalisation of Matabeleland. This is the opportunity for the youths in the region to take a stand in development issues.

“The Government has availed funding facilities for youths and youths from the region should demand their share. They should apply for these funds and utilise them.”
Cde Hudson said it was sad that a majority of the youths were idle despite the fact that they              account for about 65 percent of the country’s population.
He urged youths to work together in creating job opportunities and said his organisation was not affiliated to any political party.
“We are a majority in terms of the population but that is not reflected in the cutting of the   national cake. Every year universities and colleges are churning out graduates who do not have   jobs.

“To us, empowerment is not only taking                    over closed companies but creating new ones.   We are advocating for the empowerment of    youths so that they create their own companies           and be their own economic masters,” said Cde  Hudson.
“We are not happy with what is happening with youth loans at CABS. Youths have difficulties in     accessing these loans and the progress is very slow. We do not know whether the problem is with the youths or the bank.”

Cde Hudson castigated the Bulawayo City Council for renewing business licences for foreign operators, saying that was against the indigenisation policy.
He said the council was cashing in on the foreign  operators by charging exorbitant rentals and deliberately denying local people the opportunity to venture into the sector.
Cde Hudson was making reference to recent  remarks by Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Thaba Moyo   who said council would not hesitate to give licences to foreigners if locals were not keen to take the available spaces.

Nigerians, Indians and Chinese run a majority of   retail shops in the city centre. The youths feel this is a deliberate ploy to block their way to running retail businesses.
The council’s public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, declined to give comment over the issue, saying the mayor has already commented on it.
Clr Moyo is on record as saying the council has not received any official document from its parent Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development regarding the new regulation.

He said even if the regulation was issued council would need to look at it and examine its  effects.
Early this year, the Government directed local          authorities not to renew operating licences for foreigners in the retail sector in line with the indigenisation policy.
Under the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, the retail industry is one of the sectors that   Government said should be left for local                  entrepreneurs.