Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) minister Sithembiso Nyoni has urged people to stay in their home areas and start small businesses there rather than come and crowd in Harare and other major cities.
BY MUNESU NYAKUDYA
Speaking during a tour of SME projects in Christopher Chingosho’s Headlands constituency early this week, Nyoni urged small businesses to dream big and work hard in order to become big factories.
“I am so glad with what is happening here in Manicaland. In Harare, there are a lot of people who are vending in streets, but they come from areas like this. I wish they would stay in their areas and form businesses in their own areas,” she said. “I want to encourage you that SMEs should grow and become big factories, and we should make your constituency an example. Next year, between January and December I want to come back to officially open these places.”
Nyoni urged SMEs to apply for funding from various sources such as Women’s Fund, Youth Fund and the Ophid Fund in order to get capital.
“I am in charge of the Ophid Fund, so I will make it available. When we go back to Harare I will sit down with your MP and I will give him money so that he can distribute it accordingly to people that deserve,” she said.
One of the SME owners, Pfumai Munatsi who is into furniture and timber business said he was failing to meet demand because of lack of capital.
“I employ seven people and I make profit of up to $3 000 per month. Our main challenge is the shortage of capital and poor infrastructure,” he said.
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Farai Sakarombe, who is into popcorn making said he was failing to meet demand and needed a loan of up to $20 000 to increase production.
He makes about 500 packets of maputi per day.
