Zim, SA youths in partnership

In an interview at Chronicle offices yesterday, TLSP chief executive officer and founder Mr Solomon Thaba said they had established the Zimbabwean chapter and incorporated a number of business portfolios to establish opportunities for youths.

Mr Thaba was accompanied by the national president of Inotho Kwabatsha/Upfumi Kuvadiki and now chairman of board of directors for TLSP Zimbabwe, Mr Alson Darikayi, secretary-general Mr Bhekimpilo Nkonjela, also director of mining in TLSP and group chief executive officer of TLSP Zimbabwe Mr Davidson Hlalo who is coming in as the advisor.

“We have linked with youths in this country and established TSLP Zimbabwe, which has incorporated four business portfolios namely mining, media, equipment and construction and property. We have been engaging each other in the past months and what was left was for this relationship to be cemented which we did on 31 August by officially incorporating Inotho Kwabatsha/Upfumi Kuvadiki to TSLP,” said Mr Thaba.

Mr Thaba, who is also an African National Congress Youth League member, said the drive would soon spread to all other African countries.

“It is open to all our African brothers and all we are doing is mobilise youths around. TLSP South Africa was established in 2008 and started as an outdoor advertising media organisation and now we are launching the Zimbabwe chapter as an investment structure,” said Mr Thaba.

He said they were driven by the fact that the two countries had similar economic backgrounds although now at different levels.

“Youths are still to be mobilised to invest in their respective countries to grab the opportunities ahead of foreigners and our aim is to empower them to do this,” said Mr Thaba.

He urged Zimbabwean youths to empower themselves through synergies with their counterparts in other countries who have resources.

“Zimbabweans have a background of capability, opportunities are there but things are just a bit slow and our aim is to open avenues through synergies,” said Mr Thaba.

Mr Nkonjela said they had clinched deals with a number of corporates and hoped to create business opportunities in excess of $30 million within three months.

He appealed to youths in the Diaspora to join the drive, saying it was a primary link to economic empowerment.

“We have been in talks with large economic bodies and our target is to have business worth about $32 million in the next three months because we have entered into Memorandum of Association with a number of parastatals and huge economic bodies.

“TLSP was started in South Africa and now it is here in Zimbabwe. It is up to the leaders to continue preaching about it in the region so that all African youths are empowered. As Inotho Kwabatsha we encourage youths in the Diaspora to join the drive because it is a vehicle through which wealth would be transferred to them. This linkage is the second phase of the economic revolution,” he said.

The representatives allayed fears that empowerment programmes were politically motivated, saying it was only meant to give youths a voice in the economy of their countries.

Mr Darikayi said TLSP gesture was to ratify indigenisation and empowerment programmes.

“We understand the liquidity crunch in the Government and what we are saying is that youths have gone out of their way to partner friends in the region whose countries have liquidity. TLSP and Inotho Kwabatsha/Upfumi Kuvadiki are not political movements but young people’s initiatives to redress imbalances and level the economic playing field. We believe in and we are behind President Mugabe’s indigenisation and empowerment programme,” said Mr Darikayi.

Mr Hlalo said the duty of TLSP South Africa was to identify and solicit for synergies on behalf of the Zimbabwean chapter.

“I am coming in as an advisor to groom youths and instill discipline in business. I have been working with TLSP South Africa and their involvement will help identify synergies for our youths,” he said.

The official launch of the TLSP Zim/South Africa is expected to take place before the end of the year.

Inotho Kwabatsha/Upfumi Kuvadiki now has more than 400 000 members according to figures released last month.