Mzuzu E-Hub’s Business Capacitating Youths In Economic Drive

Mzuzu E-Hub last week Friday launched the Zantchito Entrepreneurs Business Incubation Pilot Programme which is primarily focusing on the capacitating youths within the age between 18-35 with skills and knowledge that will enable them to thrive towards the country’s economic growth in line with the Agenda 2063.

The project which has several components is designed to offer pre-incubation, incubation and post-incubation mechanisms supporting business development services and access to finance for qualified idea entrepreneurs after understanding the project framework which is the integral part of the five-year programme.

With technical and financial support from Zantchito Entrepreneurship, the programme targets technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) graduates, University graduates, micro and small enterprises, and inquisitive young people aged between 18-35 years.

Giving a keynote address during the launch the Resource Mobilization Manager for Mzuzu Entrepreneur Hub Vincent Mbisa said business ignites the economy hence the Zantchito Entrepreneurship Business Incubation Programme is primarily designed to provide the capacity for financial growth.

“Zantchito skills for jobs is aimed to create an ecosystem of job creators hence Mzuzu E-Hub implementing the business incubation programme with support from Zantchito Entrepreneurship and Access to finance,” Mbisa said.

During impact-talk a female applicant for the incubation support Hajeera Kaunjira from a rural setting, precisely in Edingeni in Mzimba District said the mentorships provided by Mzuzu E-Hub have capacitated her and colleagues with skills and knowledge that has enabled the establishment of a sustainable enterprise creating decent formal jobs in ICT.

Senior Technical Advisor for Zantchito Project, Adebayo Akindeinde and Mzuzu E-Hub Business Development Manager Jonathan Nandolo said apart from technical support applicants also stand a chance to get financial boosts in their entrepreneurial endeavours.

“This programme brings positive impact in youth development in narrowing unemployment gap in the country by creating more job creators. The biggest way to have hope is to create the future we want because entrepreneurship is about bringing change in the community,” Akindeinde said.

District Youth Officer for Mzuzu City, Misheck Msokwa said since the establishment of Mzuzu E-Hub young people have been nurtured in various innovative and sustainable enterprises creating more job creators in line with Malawi Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

A representative from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Taonga Chinula said the agency alongside it’s development partner the European Union are supporting interventions that brings tangible change fir the benefit of a larger community.

Making closing remarks of the launching ceremony, Founder of the Mzuzu E-Hub Joanna Kambuzi highligjted that by providing pre-incubation, incubation and post-incubation support business development models and access to finance to idea-stage entrepreneurship provides the basis for economic growth at all stages.

The ceremony attracted the presence of officials from Mzuzu University (MZUNI), UNDP, ministries of Youth and Education and media practitioners from various institutions.

Zantchito entrepreneurship business incubation programme is a five-year project being piloted in the whole Mzuzu E-Hub’s catchment area comprising of the six northern region districts namely Mzimba, Rumphi, Karonga, Chitipa, Nkhatabay and Likoma Island.