Page 81 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 25

Economy

escalating to unprecedented levels. When youths are gainfully employed and are doing honest day
jobs then other related problems of drug abuse, theft plus prostitution would have been dealt away
with. Pressing this same argument, if such levels of youth entrepreneurship are reached this will be to
the relief of the society at large.
Organisations in the civic society are also helping in promoting youth entrepreneurship such as Youth
Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) which implements various programs to conscientise
youth on financial literacy.

The thrust is to support those who want to start their ventures to close gaps they would have seen
in their respective locations. There is a need to move from the highly informal type of youth
entrepreneurship divorced from innovations. Also, there are now programs like “Ndine Thaza”
which loosely means in English l have 1000 bucks which helps entrepreneurs pitch their ideas whilst
competing for the coveted prize. This is being done so that other young people feel motivated to think
outside the box of starting their own business because in Africa seeing is believing. The doubting
syndrome is a major setback.

However, some claim underrepresentation in the governmental space is a major hindrance to youth
entrepreneurship in most African countries. Truth be told this is correct because youths need to have
their voices heard. Without adequate representation in parliament then the drive to continue promoting
their welfare will be limited as compared to if there is a large number of them in such spaces. Only
youths can be able to voice out the woes they face in their daily lives unlike if decisions are made by
the senior citizens of the country who have a huge generational gap with these youngsters.

The ageing population’s hope is all on us the youths. As a result, we need to take entrepreneurship
seriously because it has led to the growth of many countries.

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