Entrepreneurship addresses the unemployment question

THE Zimbabwean economy has struggled to reshape after a prolonged battering in the past two decades.

With the increasing unemployment, entrepreneurship has since occupied the space that was previously taken by industry and the commercial sector in meeting the employment and livelihoods needs of Zimbabweans. The COVID-19-induced lockdown worsened the situation as companies were forced to downsize and cut costs.

However, entrepreneurship plays a very critical role in the economic development and growth of any country as it contributes to employment creation, revenue generation and most importantly economic transformation, simultaneously reducing poverty, especially among the youth.

Small and cost-effective businesses are evidently creating employment and sustainable livelihoods to both the rural and urban youths.

The government should take bold steps in addressing, assisting and empowering young entrepreneurs from both urban and rural areas.

Entrepreneurship is giving both the rural and urban youths opportunities to be creative and innovative, putting new ideas which boost the economy for the benefit of the whole nation.

The young entrepreneurs need to be innovative so as to succeed. In Zimbabwe, people know more about musicians than about entrepreneurs.

Despite the opportunities that come with selfstarting and skills-supported businesses, little mechanisms are in place to channel the gained resources to the benefit of the nation at large.

This is largely to do with lack of government support to the everyday struggles vendors and owners of small-and-medium enterprises face.

Entrepreneurs change the way people live and work in a tremendous way through the creation of jobs and wealth for everyone who is willing to work.