Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association through its investment arm, the Bulawayo Business Hub in partnership with Champions Insurance Company underwritten by Bluefin has rolled out an insurance scheme for informal traders from as little as USD$5 .
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Swiznage Gwauya is set to launch his new album titled the Skyscraper Heights on 22 July, 2023 at Shelbatic Sports Bar in Pumula North. Let us support local talent, entry is free!
New kid on the block album launch Read More »
A new women’s Revolving Fund, spearheaded by Bulwayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) Ward Seven based members is keeping women off the couch by funding them to start up small businesses that will keep them occupied as well as provide them with income. Ward Seven Chairperson, Edith Ndebele said that their motive was to help uplift each other as women to start businesses and be self-sufficient. “Our objective was to uplift each other so we came together and contributed five rands each which amounted to R130 which we gave to one member to spin/use and then bring it back with R20 interest after a duration of one week,” Edith Ndebele said. The group members organised a set-up whereby they gather every week to each contribute five rands, and give the total amount to one group member who will then go and start a small business with it, to then come back the following week and pass on that amount with twenty per cent interest to someone else while they retain the profit. This means that the following week two people will be receiving the start-up money, one from the weekly contributions and the other from the previous beneficiary. This scheme should see an increasing number of beneficiaries every week.
Revolving Fund Spurs Women Traders Read More »
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) Imbokodo Women Council Revolving Fund under the motto Okuhle siyazenzela BVTA, is yielding fruitful results following testimonies from members that have already received their pay-outs. Out of five people who received their payouts of USD$50, three members have testified that they have used the money efficiently to build their businesses and enhance their households. They have injected more capital into their businesses, bought household properties and procured more equipment for their businesses. The women expressed their gratitude and motivated their fellow members to use the money effectively to enhance their businesses and households. “I’m one of the people who received their money on the first round and Added my own savings on top and then bought myself a big box of pots with various kitchen utensils included”, said Jane Ndebele. “I bought an electric balloon pump, manual pump, white mat arc, balloons and Bobo balloons after acquiring the skill to do Balloon gallant, Lizzie Ngwenya told the Vendors Voice The BVTA Women’s Club has been running since last year February, and it consists of sixty members that are segmented into ten groups with five people each. The monthly contributions towards the Revolving Fund is USD$50 to one person from each group every fortnight.
BVTA Women’s Revolving Fund Paying Off Read More »
A contemporary Pumula Junction dance outfit has set its eyes to compete at the highest level after it acquired entrepreneurship skills that enticed to them to register with the National Arts Council (NAC). During the Safe and Inclusive Cities project (SAIC) led trainings, the dance outfit was encouraged to formally register their businesses for legitimacy, brand awareness, to be more professional, to get access to funding and sponsors and to secure a business name. Its founding leader Gamelihle Thwala said SAIC trainings were handy in motivating them to decide to formalise their dance business. “Our motivation to register our group came after receiving trainings under Business and Entrepreneurship on the importance of registering businesses, we have since registered with NAC,” said. “Our clientele and customer base have so far increased as we now operate formally and given recognition by various stakeholders,” continued Thwala. “Registering our group has guaranteed us continuity of our career just beyond us, clients have been interested in knowing about our profile and some even require the registration certificate to prove that we are not fake,” added Nkosentsha Hlambelo, a group member. “Little did I know that when you register a company or group, the name that you choose is reserved to you only. I am glad we registered our group in time before our name was taken, said Ayanda Martins, another group member. “Registering our group has established a start date to show how long we have been running our legitimate business, because some customers want to deal with established brands,” continued Martins. “We are grateful for the knowledge we attained from the trainings on business and entrepreneurship, we are now prone to getting sponsorship and other financial support as they need proof that we are operating a viable business,” said Thwala. The vibrant group has shared the stage with popular South African Musicians like Freddy Gwala and Babes Wodumo and they are looking forward to achieving more.
A dance from the streets sets eyes beyond the sky Read More »
Young people have appealed for financial support from Micro financial Institutions (MFIs) as they are struggling with lack of capital and are besieged to enhance their businesses. This was indicated by young people who are part of the Safe and Inclusive Cities (SAIC 2.0) project, implemented by Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) in partnership with Plan International, during an engagement session with MFIs. Young people revealed that MFIs should avail more funding, review their terms and diversify their loan portfolios to ensure that all young people with sound business proposals are supported financially. “Access to financial services can help ease the stresses associated with the challenges we face as young people starting from school, home, getting married and not getting jobs, said Masimba Bunu. “Building a financially inclusive ecosystem on a sustainable basis requires the involvement of a key constituency in the economy, the youth. One cannot talk of financial inclusiveness without addressing the challenge of involving the young in the discussion and practice of financial inclusion,” said Mr Brown from MoB Capital. Financial exclusion is not only a reality for most members of our society but it is especially true, that for youth, who are particularly vulnerable. During the engagement session, it was also revealed that it is important to provide youths with information on saving and opportunities to accumulate businesses. “The considered view of the organization is that MFIs should consider tailor making packages specific to young entrepreneurs,” said BVTA Executive Director Mr Michael Ndiweni. “We want to see young men and women who are financially independent and have decent income, young people must have businesses that create employment opportunities, generate income for them and save them from engaging from harmful things, rather keeping them only busy,” Mthandazo Bhebe told The Lokshin Pulse.
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Swizinage Gwauya a 20-year-old upcoming male dancehall musician from Bulawayo’s Pumula North suburb is set to release his first album titled Skyscraper Height comprising of 12 songs. Gwauya who got a kick in the back from the Safe and Inclusive Cities project (SAIC 2.0) supported by Plan International, to record his first album said it is through the lessons they learnt from the workshops that enabled him to work hard to produce a 12-song album. In an interview, the Dancehall singer revealed that the album comprises of songs that talk about different life issues including love, heartbreaks, gospel songs among others. “As part of the knowledge that l got from trade camps, l tried really hard to incorporate messages that resonate with different people. This is one of the ways that will enable me to have bigger crowds because everyone is catered for. From the adults to children and the young people in communities, everyone will get messages that will speak to them,” he said. Lack of self respect by artists and for their fans, has had adverse effects on them and the brand they have tried to create. Recalling on other lessons, Gwauya highlighted respect as key for artists to stay relevant in the market. “One of the first issues that we were taught has a lot to do with respect. As artists it is very important to respect ourselves and our fans. This helps us to be professional so that people will also take our work seriously,” he said. “l am planning on implementing all the lessons, in terms of performing and the overall way that l will carry myself so that l can be a better artist,”Gwauya added. Gwauya, lamented financial incapacitation that hinders him to prepare a dream launch. He said he hoped to make money through his music as he intends to implement all the knowledge from the trade camps. The SAIC project seeks to capacitate young people in all spheres of life through skills development and decent income opportunities and has helped Gwauya, who only has been producing singles to take a step further towards growth through producing an album.
New kid on the block – Gwauya launches album Read More »
New to many, unusual but some believed in new possibilities, this is a story of Masimba Bunu, a 20-year-old male and Sthembiso Maseko, a 24-year-old female, who have experienced a bumpy road in starting up their businesses but through the Trade camps their lives will never be the same again as they have started reaping positive results. Young people have been part of trade camps that sought to capacitate them with both theoretical and practical learnings through skills transfer from master crafts. The trade camps were done under the Safe and Inclusive Project, led by Plan International. For Bunu who is into poultry farming, the road has not been easy as for a long time since the genesis of his chicken farming he has been experiencing losses due to lack of knowledge. Bunu who attended the trade camps has realised positive returns after implementing skills attained from the trade camps. “Since attending the insightful trade camp on chicken farming l have been selling more chickens than l had been before. I have increased the number of chickens I keep, therefore my profit margins have also increased,” he said. He aspires to have land of his own where he would expand his poultry business. “Right now, l have very limited space to operate from, l wish that l could find a bigger space where l will be able to build structures suitable for chicken rearing,” Bunu said. For Sithembiso Maseko who is a recent graduate from catering through the trade camps has not had it easy as well, but has managed to find ground as she is planning on starting her catering business soon. Maseko once had a catering business which did not do well till its closure but with the help of SAIC she has gained skills that has helped her to rekindle her dream. “I have been attending trade camps and other trainings and l can safely say they have made a huge difference in my life. They taught us communication skills, business management and basic life skills among others,” she said. “For now, l have started baking muffins as a way of penetrating the market and I am hoping that my skills will help me build a successful business,” Maseko added. Poultry and catering services are among many ventures that many young Zimbabweans have turned to in order to make an honest living. Young people in the country have also started small businesses as a way of creating jobs for themselves.
Trade Camps – a boon for SAIC youths Read More »
Young people in Bulawayo have lauded the Safe and Inclusive Cities (SAIC 2.0), a brain child of Plan International, for imparting transformative skills and knowledge that have changed their mindsets on businesses. Patience Sithole, a Beauty Therapist is one among many who benefitted from the skills transfer as evidenced by how she was prompted into business soon after undergoing the process. For Sithole, who merely had a passion for the beauty industry but with little knowledge about its entire operations highlighted that she quickly opened her Beauty Spa which has so far been running smoothly with the help of the practical skills she learned from her mentors in the project. For Sithole, the knowledge about what made the whole beauty industry was limited but soon became fully operational following the set of skills and knowledge that were imparted to her. “I have opened a boutique in our home garage at the moment because I can’t manage to get the finances that to help rent a shop in town,” Sithole added. “I am now able to buy my products that help to execute my duties without any major challenges,” Sithole told The Lokshin Pulse. Despite the harsh economic challenges bedevilling the country, amidst fluctuating, chasing of rates in the parallel market to access foreign currency, Ms Sithole is now able to handle her finances well without having to run a loss due to misapplication of funds. “The other skill that l learnt is financial management, this skilled has helped me a lot because now I am able to budget perfectly and l can see whether l have made profit or not in a particular period,” she said. Regular power outages in the country have also not spared beauticians whose work relies heavily on reliable electricity. Power cuts in the country have affected many businesses including manufacturing firms, retail shops and many other service providers and has adversely affected the profit margins of businesses, more so for start-up and small businesses. Throughout the whole learning process, Sithole said she learnt to be patient and to trust the process. She urged other young people who might want to start their own business to take challenges as learning opportunities that will help them become better business owners in the future.
The beauty of SAIC Read More »
