By Lindelwa Dlamini
NHLANGANO – Hustle in silence and let your success make noise.
Those are words that were said by Bongane Mavuso from Sibovu in Nhlangano.
He is a taxi driver who fought against all odds not to be limited by the busy schedule of his daily work but also to invest part of his time into poultry business.
Mavuso poultry business dream which he had early as 2003 came to pass in 2017. He started the business with money he earned as a taxi driver. Last year, Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF ESWATINI) awarded him funds to further his business.
“I came back from South Africa after losing my job. I decided go back to what was once my dream and I build a poultry house where I was nursing my chicken and it was a indeed a success. Unfortunately, as time went on things never went well as I built it in a place that was not my parental home which resulted into tension as my business was flourishing and jealousy arose from the home owners. I then decided to find my own place (ngakhonta), that was one of the best decisions I have ever made as since then my business have reach greater heights. Then last year 2023 my business was offered funding by YERF ESWATINI”, he said.
Mavuso said that on his poultry business, he kept rabbits and chickens which he sells to people in his community and on other areas in Nhlangano. He also managed to hire two people to assist in his project.
He continued saying that the money he got from YERF ESWATINI built a new poultry house in a place where he was given by his community as business site and he also invest part of it on buying a mini lorry.
Mavuso further stated that he made a discovery that most of Eswatini youth are not aware of these funds that the government has allocated through organisations like YERF ESWATINI and many have misinformation about them. He urge the youth to reach out to those organisations offices or visit their regional offices so that they must lot be left out from such opportunities.These funds are to limit the cry of unemployment in Eswatini and many of the youth have gained from them as they are now running their businesses.
“I urge some taxi drivers especially those below the age of 35 to invest in other opportunities than to rely on their salaries which is not enough for their responsibilities. They must not live on the taxi owners dream but they must create theirs while working”, said Mavuso.
He added that he pleaded with the YERF ESWATINI to continue to refinance individuals who are their clients if they run out of funds even if there are over 35 years. They must go back to their charts and see how certain individuals have made out of these funds or how are they are paying the loans .
The YERF ESWATINI is open to all youth individuals who wish to get funding for their businesses. They can gain access to their Facebook page ‘Youth Enterprise Fund Eswatini / info@yef.co.sz/ www.yef.co.sz
