Another E0.2m for MTN Cija Ngebhizinisi
MBABANE - MTN Eswatini has once again injected E200 000 towards the radio programme.
Cija Ngebhizinisi
The entrepreneurship programme which is aired on national radio is championed by the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO).
In the past two years, MTN had pumped E200 000 for the programme which was launched in 2018. Following the investment of E300 000 in the first edition, this year’s contribution takes the company’s total contribution to E900 000.
The programme, which seeks to develop entrepreneurial literacy across the nation, reaches climax through the awarding of E50 000 seed capital to deserving entrepreneurs.
Engage
In her address during a launch of the fourth edition at the SEDCO offices in Mbabane yesterday, MTN Foundation Chaiperson Busisiwe Simelane said since the start of the programme in 2018, it had been a privilege to reach and engage with young people nationally.
“Last year, we reached 63 000 listeners – which we believe is part of the process of inspiring a new breed of businesspeople,” she said.
Simelane said this year’s training programme would include modules on COVID-19 survival strategies – something that has become critical in a time of unprecedented crisis.
“We trust that the COVID-19 modules will empower entrepreneurs to swim against the COVID-19 tide – by identifying opportunities that would contribute to the improvement of quality of life for the people of Eswatini during this time.
“Our contribution to the country’s economic recovery process is through supporting the development of youth entrepreneurs who will contribute to the acceleration of economic activities going forward,” she said.
In her address, the chairperson said the investment was part of their contribution to addressing the challenge of youth unemployment and stimulation of economic recovery.
Enabling
“We strongly believe that the programme will fuel Eswatini’s entrepreneurship by enabling young and smart entrepreneurs to kick-off with their projects.
“We encourage entrepreneurs to participate in the programme as if their lives depend on it,” she stressed.
SEDCO CEO Khethiwe Mhlanga said yesterday’s event was testimony to the continued success of the programme and the significant impact it had on society, especially the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
“Although conceived before the COVID era, the MTN-SEDCO Cija Ngebhizinisi’s relevance has been pronounced during the period of the lockdown where in-person training was prohibited.
“The MTN-SEDCO Cija Ngebhizinisi programme continues to empower MSMEs to unlock their potential and guarantee equitable and sustainable development,” she said.
Over the past three concluded seasons, the programme had seen 15 competition winners getting a total of E150 000 working capital towards their enterprises. These businesses employ a total of 45 emaSwati and have a combined annual turnover of about E550 000.
Training
Besides the seed capital winners, SEDCO has provided in-depth faceto-face entrepreneurship training to 65 MSME owners who participated in the competition and were regular listeners to the radio programme.
“Conducting the programme on radio and in siSwati has ensured the inclusion of marginalised groups who have all along been excluded by the language barrier as English has been the medium of instruction in most training workshops. As a result, a total population of about 83 000 people were reached within the three year period through platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and call-ins,” she shared.
One of the past winners in the competition segment of the programme, Nomfundo Nxumalo, who runs a baking business said through the programme she learnt proper record keeping while the working capital came in handy at some point when she ran out of essentials in the business.