Ludzeludze Incubation Centre launched
MANZINI – Young people should hold government accountable for funds that are allocated to them.
This was the advice given by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, during the launch of the Ludzeludze Incubation Centre 2023. It took place at Ludzeludze Constituency Centre yesterday.
The incubation programme is facilitated by Junior Achievement (JA), through the support of UNICEF, the Eswatini National Youth Council (ENYC), as well as the Republic of China (Taiwan). Through the project, the youth have access to computers, free internet and printing services at the constituency centre. The major focus of the project is to introduce incubation centres in the country’s regions. The current Ludzeludze incubation project will target 60 young entrepreneurs. In 2022, JA benefitted an amount of E1. 6 million from the Republic of China (Taiwan), which was directed to both in-school and outof-school youth empowerment. Some of these funds have been directed to this incubation centre as a match fund. The Ludzeludze Incubation Centre follows the Nhlangano Incubation Centre, which was launched last year and saw at least 100 youths involved on entrepreneurship.
Monitored
In his remarks, Minister Khumalo alluded to that if funds were carefully monitored to see how well executed programmes should be, government should not be struggling to give the youth finance to start businesses.
“So we need to start focusing on how efficient are the mechanisms that we have put in place. I want to argue that E26 million a year is not a small amount of money. It is where that money goes,” he quipped.
The minister wondered if 80 per cent of that money went to administration, offices, salaries, cars, or if it went to the youth. He further challenged the youth to start challenging government in questioning where the money went. Khumalo said it seemed as though people were blaming government for not doing anything when there was money that was allocated.
He said in some instances, one may find that half the budget was allocated to salaries while the other was channeled to equipment and cars, and only a small portion was left.
“You need to hold us accountable. Where does the money go to? In my mind, 80 per cent of the funds should end up with you,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister stated that UNICEF was channelling lots of funds and support purely to young people. He said likewise, government also had a number of programmes where each year, there was money dedicated to supporting the youth.
Focused
He noted that towards the end of last year, the King launched a huge programme sponsored by the UNDP that focused on development skills for young people. He said government spent about E30 million annually that was dedicated to young people, through the Youth Enterprise Fund. He said it was not enough, but it was an indication that this was where the focus needed to be. Meanwhile, the minister appreciated UNICEF for making skills development of emaSwati a priority. He said the investment that had been made in the youth was greatly appreciated and valued by the country. He also appreciated the support from the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, through ENYC, for supporting this initiative with a structure.
Khumalo further implored all stakeholders to support and embrace this initiative in every possible way. He highlighted that the ministry had done everything in its power to ensure that young people contributed to the economy through different interventions.
“I would like to encourage all young people to utilise these opportunities for their business growth. As a ministry, we have also continued to support JA with an annual subvention, and have ensured that the organisation is financially supported with funds from Taiwan, through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Trade,” Khumalo said.
Continuing
He stated that they had seen out of school youth programmes continuing to change the lives of emaSwati through JAEswatini and this was contributing positively towards the reduction of the youth unemployment rate in the country. He implored that everyone may persevere in making the country a better place for children and generations to come by ensuring that job opportunities were created for them. JA Eswatini Executive Director Phetsile Masilela said the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest were contributing greatly to unemployment. She disclosed that the JA received a subvention of E500 000 annually from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade. She said the money went a long way.
UNICEF Representative to Eswatini, Amina Muhammed, expressed that through the programme, there was hope for everyone. She advised the youth to utilise the hub not only for business, but for acquiring knowledge to fight socials ills such as gender-based violence. Muhammed also requested government to invest in education that was fit for the purpose of young people, such as vocational training.