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Mbulelo Mpofu
ZIMBABWEAN young entrepreneurs are preparing to showcase the country’s growing enterprise potential when they join counterparts from across Southern Africa at the SADC Young Exporters and Importers Exchange Programme in Gaborone, Botswana, from July 1 to 5.
Hosted at the University of Botswana (UB), the five-day programme is expected to bring together students, entrepreneurs, policymakers, business leaders, development partners and trade institutions from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and beyond to explore ways of increasing youth participation in regional and continental trade.
Held under the theme, “Empowering SADC Youth for Trade and Industrial Participation under AfCFTA,” the gathering seeks to equip young people with practical trade and entrepreneurship skills while exposing them to regional import and export markets, fostering business partnerships and unlocking opportunities in trade, industry and enterprise development.
The programme comes at a time when African countries are intensifying efforts to maximise the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with youth increasingly being recognised as critical drivers of industrialisation, innovation and cross-border commerce.
Organisers say confirmations have already been received from the SADC Secretariat, National Youth Councils from across the region, trade authorities, policymakers, development partners and youth enterprise organisations, underscoring the importance attached to youth-led economic transformation within the region.
The UB and Botswana’s Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship are hosting the event, providing institutional support and policy backing for the initiative.
Each participating country has appointed a national coordinator responsible for mobilising delegates and facilitating participation. In Zimbabwe, that responsibility has been entrusted to the Confederation of Youth Entrepreneurs (CoYE), which is serving as the country’s coordinating partner.
Zimbabwe’s participation is expected to align closely with the country’s broader foreign policy objectives of strengthening regional integration and expanding economic cooperation within SADC through increased youth participation in trade and industrial development.
The country’s delegation is expected to showcase Zimbabwean innovation, entrepreneurial talent and resilience while exploring partnerships capable of opening new regional markets and investment opportunities.
Zimbabwe Country Coordinator, Mr Tedious Ncube, said the programme directly supports President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of empowering young people to become active contributors to regional economic development.
According to Ncube, the initiative responds to the President’s repeated calls for Zimbabwean youth to pursue bigger regional markets by leveraging bilateral and multilateral trade agreements while strengthening economic cooperation within Southern Africa.
Programme Convenor, Mr Tshiamo Brian Badubi, described the exchange programme as an important milestone in ensuring that young Africans play a meaningful role in shaping the continent’s economic future.
“This programme is about ensuring that young people are not left behind as Africa moves toward a more integrated economic future,” said Badubi.
“The AfCFTA presents unprecedented opportunities for youth-led businesses to access regional and continental markets. Our goal is to equip young entrepreneurs with the practical knowledge, networks, and exposure they need to seize these opportunities and become active participants in shaping Africa’s trade landscape.”
Beyond conference discussions, participants will engage in networking sessions, knowledge-sharing platforms and market exposure activities designed to provide practical insights into exporting, importing and enterprise development.
The organisers say the programme is intended to accommodate participants from diverse backgrounds, including established entrepreneurs, start-up founders, aspiring business owners and university students, with attendance available both physically and virtually.
Delegates will also have opportunities to exhibit products and services while engaging with potential business partners, policymakers and industry leaders from across the SADC region.
As Zimbabwe continues to encourage youth-led industrialisation and entrepreneurship, the exchange programme offers a platform for emerging business leaders to build regional partnerships and contribute to the country’s trade ambitions under the AfCFTA framework.
With regional integration increasingly viewed as central to Africa’s economic future, Zimbabwe’s participation is expected to reinforce its commitment to expanding youth involvement in cross-border trade while positioning its young entrepreneurs to compete in larger continental markets.
Registration for the programme remains open to interested participants wishing to attend the regional gathering either in person or virtually. According to organisers, interested participants can register through the online form at https://forms.gle/sSEaiJ6R2BYPYhi76. – Follow on X@MbuleloMpofu
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