BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – The Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development David Ngcamphalala has encouraged 48 Women in Development Fashion and Design graduates to consider forming groups.
These groups, once formed, will then apply for funding from the Regional Development Fund (RDF) and other partners to grow their businesses.
The Minister was speaking during a graduation ceremony held at the Mahlangatsha Women in Development (WID) centre.
Worth mentioning is that the Government has five WID centres; Ntfonjeni, Mahlangatsha, Mahamba, Siphofaneni and Sithobelweni.
Ngcamphalala encouraged the graduates to go out and be aggressive in the business world. He said they should think beyond looking for jobs but creating job opportunities for themselves and expanding into big companies.
“It is not easy to run a business; it calls for determination, perseverance, failing and trying again. Graduates are encouraged to fully utilise the services of Community Development Officers for constant sensitisation on opportunities available as support from your respective Tinkhundla,” said Ngcamphalala.
He further said it was commendable that now the centre is open to both men and women and the Ministry, as the promoter of social inclusion, is continually ensuring gender balance in all life changing opportunities.
“Men are therefore encouraged to enrol for skills empowerment opportunities which have been previously stereotyped as women’s skills,” he said.
Meanwhile a total of 24 handcraft students received certificates from the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) after completing a course on screen printing.
The training has been a collaboration between UNESWA’s Apparel and Textile Department and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade’s Handicraft department.
Principal Secretary ( PS) Siboniso Nkambule who was represented at the event said he was informed that the University identified a gap in fading of cultural artefacts that describe background and tradition as the Swazi Nation.
“The university then decided to preserve the fading artefacts through screen printing on fabric, for our great grandchildren to find them. These include tingula, titsebe, ticamelo, tihlahla temsimeto and many more,”
“I believe that training on new skills to the artisans will play a major role in assisting them to have a variety of products to make and sell for sustainability. This can be achieved through continuous training and harnessing one’s skills and talents so that they produce quality handcrafts that will sell around the globe, to sustain their livelihood,”, he said.
UNESWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Justice Thwala said the university produced students who at the end of the day end up not having employment, so this is one way they are contributing to the community with the hope that they will be entrepreneurs and have their own businesses.
Some of the graduates mentioned that they were happy to have seen their courses through.
“I’m happy to have finally finished acquiring a new skill and I cannot wait to venture into entrepreneurship and offer job opportunities to others,” said Martha Maziya one of the graduates.
Another sharing the same sentiments was Anna Ndlovu sjl said the journey to finally graduating was not an easy one but was worth it.
“I thought school was hard, but now the real job begins putting my skills into good and beneficial use. Thank owe have the full support of the Government,” said Ndlovu.
