BY BANELE MAGONGO
MBABANE – BSA Training Centre Director Bongani Dlamini urges graduates to consider applying for Regional Development Fund (RDF) to support their entrepreneurial endeavours.
The director explained that the BSA Training Centre would provide the necessary funding to the graduates so that they could be able to access the RDF, which could be a tremendous source of support for those looking to start or expand a business.
The RDF requires that people who want to access it should have at least 10 percent of the financial capital they want to use to start whatever business they wanted to start. The RDF also required that people who want to access it should form groups of at least 10 people.
Dlamini, acknowledged the words of Eswatini Positive News (EPN) Director Mbongeni Ndlela, who was representing the Mbabane East Member of Parliament (MP) Welcome Dlamini. Ndlela spoke extensively on what the graduates needed in order to be successful business people.
He said knowledge, patience, perseverance were one of the important values the graduates needed to have. Ndlela also emphasised in knowing the right people. He said the aspiring entrepreneurs needed to establish rapport with people who could enable them to make money.
Ndlela narrated that he started selling roasted chickens (popularly known as chicken dust) at Hilltop in Mbabane. This was because he had just finished his high school education at Siphocosini High School. He had not done well, so he wanted to raise money to re-start at MDS High School. He was able to do that until he passed and ended up becoming a journalist for Times of Eswatini, where he spent 17 years.
As he narrated about his turbulent journey, some of the graduates listened in astonishment, realising that theirs could be a tough ride ahead. Ndlela would remind them that he was not telling them such things to scare them, but to prepare them for the difficulties that could be encountered by them on their entrepreneurial journey.
Speaking about his journey, Ndlela said he realised during the political unrest that there was a need to write about the positive news that was happening in the country, so that people could know that despite the bad things people complained about, there were many things to be celebrated by Emaswati, it was just that they were not told for the people to appreciate them.
Ndlela said he presented his idea to Govenrment and other companies and they supported his ideas, hence the online newspaper was in existence today. He said when he started, many people took his venture for granted and did not see that it would live up to this day. He told the graduates that it was important to start small in every venture and it would grow as it delivered on its mandate.
The Director advised the graduates to apply the knowledge that had been shared by the panel of speakers. He stressed the importance of taking action based on the information and resources provided, in order to make the most of the training they had received
He emphasised the importance of listening, as it can be a powerful tool for gaining valuable knowledge and insight.
He stressed that while experience can’t be bought, it can be gained through listening to others who have already been through similar experiences. Dlamini urged the young people to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from the wisdom of those who have come before them.
