By Phiwa Sikhondze
Three local entrepreneurs have seen their dreams come true, courtesy of funding offered by the MTN Eswatini Foundation through its partners which comprises of the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO), Young Heroes, Junior Achievement (JA), and the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF).
The MTN Foundation provides financial and technical support to its aforementioned partners who in turn assist and empower young people in the country.
The support has enabled a number of small business owners to grow and employ young people in their businesses.
Funeka Mdluli is one of the beneficiaries who benefitted through SEDCO and is doing well in her honey business.
Speaking during a handover event at the Mahlalekhukhwini House where the Foundation was handing over a donation of E950 000 to its partners, Mdluli said her business is in the process of expansion.
“My business entails buying honey and supplying local shops which includes OK Foods Stores and Spar stores around the country. After winning seed capital, I went back to my home area where I gathered the youth to start a project of bee-keeping and as we speak the project is about to commence,” she said.
She added that she is currently in the process of registering her company so that her business can no longer be considered a small business.
Bongekile Msibi, another beneficiary is now a successful broiler farmer. She benefited through the Khula Natsi Fund under YERF.
From a seed capital of E20 000, she is able to produce a total of 500 broilers per cycle after initially starting her business with 50 broilers. As, a result, she currently has 3 employees in her business and hopes to employ even more as her business continues to grow.
Msibi added that she recently received additional funding of E10 000 from JA. With this addition, she hopes to add more stock in order to generate more sales.
Meanwhile, Zanele Mbatha is a professional welder after getting assistance through Young Heroes. She is currently employed as a welder by one of the contractors in Eswatini.
“I would like to start my own business and I believe there is a lot I can do in my home area, which includes teaching and capacitating young people,” she said.
The Head of Corporate Services at MTN, Sibusiso Nhleko who was Acting CEO on the day assured the youth of continued empowerment and support. He revealed that the Foundation will soon be launching the MTN Skills Academy, along with other initiatives for youth empowerment in Eswatini. Nhleko hinted at ‘The Grand Hustler,’ a unique program designed to empower young entrepreneurs.
Without detailing much about this programme, he highlighted that it aims to connect young entrepreneurs to investors to ensure the growth of their business ventures.