By Patience Gondo
YOUTHS in Beitbridge should take advantage of business opportunities created by the border, a youth empowerment engagement meeting concluded.
The meeting was held under the Youth Collective Action for Social Transformation Alliance project involving its beneficiaries Tshilidzi Trust, Ukuna and TPC Youth Association.
The meeting held on Friday brought together youths and government officials to discuss practical ways young people can generate income by utilising opportunities within the border community.
Representative from the Ministry of Youth Onitah Dube said Beitbridge’s position as one of the busiest border towns presents several economic opportunities that young people can tap into instead of waiting for government funding.
She said youths should venture into clearing and forwarding services, saying the constant movement of cars at the border creates business opportunities.
“Young people should take advantage of the border and become clearing agents instead of waiting for funding from government,” she said.
She also said youths can do small businesses that cater for travellers passing through the border.
“As young people in Beitbridge you can even take advantage of the weather conditions and sell bottled water to travellers at the border to generate income,” she said.
Speaking to Ziyah News, Tshilidzi Trust Executive director Janet Taruvinga said the organisation hopes young people in the district will have tangible achievements by the year 2030.
“Our target is that by 2030 young people from Beitbridge should be able to clearly point out what they have achieved and built as youth,” she said.
She also encouraged youths to utilise natural resources available in the district, including the Shashe and Limpopo rivers, to start agricultural projects.
Meanwhile, Wellington Mudyawabikwa from the Ministry of Women Affairs urged young people to explore opportunities in the digital economy, including content creation.
He gave an example of Beitbridge influencer Ritz Mcleicsh, who was nominated for the People’s Choice category at the National Arts Merit Awards, as an example of how young people can build careers through digital platforms.
District Development Coordinator Mr Moyo said informal cross border trade remains one of the major sources of livelihood in Beitbridge.
He said young people should organise themselves into groups and develop stronger business skills to increase value from their enterprises.
“Informal trading is the backbone of many families in Beitbridge and value can increase when traders improve their business skills and work collectively,” he said.
Moyo said many traders currently operating in the sector are ageing, creating space for young people to enter the industry.
“Youths board into the industry as the old exit” he said .
He also said some opportunities in the border town are now being taken by people from other areas.
“People travel from places such as Mutare to operate as zalawi here, yet these are opportunities that young people in Beitbridge can take advantage of,” he said.
Zimbabwe has a youthful population, with young people constituting about 67.7 percent of the population.
However, many youths face challenges such as unemployment, poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, migration, child marriages and rising drug abuse.