BY PHESHEYA IAN KUNENE
KWALUSENI — You don’t need permission to start, just vision, data, and courage.
That was the message from South African tech entrepreneur Talifhani Banks, founder and CEO of Spaza Eats, as he lit up the stage on Day one of the AI & Digital Transformation Youth Summit 2025, hosted at UNESWA, Kwaluseni.
Banks, who hails from rural Limpopo, told Eswatini youth that the economy has already shifted and young people no longer have to wait for access, they simply have to start.
“You were not born into the same economy your parents were born into,” he said. “If you’ve got a phone, a voice, and an idea, you can build something real.”
He encouraged participants to embrace digital inclusion, noting that technology has eliminated the gatekeepers.
“You can now sell earrings from a rural homestead in Eswatini to someone in the UK through WhatsApp. That’s power. You don’t need perfect English, you need real execution,” he added.
The award-winning techpreneur broke down practical tools creatives and entrepreneurs can use today: “Use ChatGPT to draft business plans or CVs, Canva AI for flyers, CapCut for content, and bots like Tidio to automate sales.”
Banks told the crowd to stop dreaming and start doing. “Register a domain, open a digital wallet, learn one digital skill, and collaborate. Form a team of three. You don’t need to do it alone.”
He said AI is not a luxury, but a tool: “AI is the new farming tool. It’s the new sewing machine. It’s your next business partner.”
His vision for Eswatini? A country that can lead Africa’s digital revolution.
“Eswatini is young, culturally rich, and small enough to innovate. You can be the first to build a fintech app here, the first TikTok AI teacher in siSwati, or the first rural hustler with global clients.”
“I wasn’t the smartest. I didn’t have connections. But I had hunger, and I had data,” he said to loud applause. “Start with what’s in your hands. This is your time.”
The summit continues tomorrow, featuring more panels, workshops, and showcases from local and international innovators.
