2015 “enterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge” Winners Announced
It was an evening of celebration and jubilation at Holiday Inn, Harare on 27 August 2015, as seventeen young entrepreneurs from across 34 districts under the “Skills for Youth Employment and Rural Development Programme” celebrated their triumph in the inaugural “enterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge” awards ceremony.
27 August 2015
The “enterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge” had one hundred and nineteen (119) applications shortlisted in the first round. Thirty (30) applications were shortlisted in the second and final round.
The night began with welcome remarks from the ILO Director, Ms Hopolang Phororo, who highlighted the objectives of the competition to complement the “Skills for Youth Employment and Rural Development Programme” with access to finance and business development services to young people with a business idea or existing business. As the Programme comes to an end in December 2015, she hoped that the ILO’s partners and other developmental agencies will be able to adopt and or adapt the models that have been piloted in selected districts over the past five years. She mentioned that “The “enterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge” is by no means the biggest or the best youth entrepreneurship award in this country, but it clearly demonstrates what can be achieved through partnerships.”
Ms Barbra Rwodzi, one of the young successful entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe presented an inspiring speech. She encouraged the thirty nominees to create ‘social enterprises’ which offer job opportunities, as well as provide services which alleviate poverty in their communities. She ended her presentation by urging the youth to, “believe in yourself and follow your dreams. Zimbabwe does not need thinkers but need doers”.
The Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Mr Japhet Moyo represented by Mr Elijah Mutemeri, appreciated the Training for Rural Economic Empowerment (TREE) for creating jobs for the youth. He urged the government, employers and workers to take it to the next level.
In a brief statement, the Executive Director of the Employer’s Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ), Mr John Mufukare reiterated that the beneficiaries have demonstrated what could be done hence the need to go out there and do it.
The Permanent Secretary of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Ngoni Masoka pointed out that young men and women were now employable because of the skills they had gained.
In her statement, the Ambassador of Netherlands, Her Excellency G. Sneller said, “You have to be creative. Have a mentor and do not fear to fail”. She urged the tripartite constituents to create a conducive environment for the young entrepreneurs to succeed.
The key note address by the Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, who was represented by Honourable Deputy Minister, Mathias Tongofa brought to the fore that the Ministry has adopted the TREE methodology as the national framework for the economic empowerment of youth in Zimbabwe. He looked forward to this methodology being scaled up nationally to benefit all the young people across all the districts of the country.
He further emphasised,
The Department for International Development (DFID) Economic Advisor, Mr Dave Mollat who represented the judges pointed out that the nominees’ entries were of high quality. Special mention was stated on the resilience of the nominees in coming up with good proposals and the long term view of their businesses as providing service to community while making profit.
The climax of the evening was the announcement of winners. The nominees were tense as they nervously waited for the names of the winners to be announced and the invited guests were eager to know the winners. Ms Maggie Mapanga and Ms Molline Sigauke could not believe that they were winners. They were overcome with tears of joy and unbelief and sobbed while receiving their prizes.
The nine winners in the three sectors are indicated in the table below:
The following eight winners in the other categories are as follows:
The “enterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge” generated some positive interest and a non-governmental organisation, SNV and some private companies namely; Total Zimbabwe, MicroKing, Royal Business Consult Trust, Cresta Hotel, Holiday Inn and Securico provided additional prizes to the various categories.
The ILO Director appreciated the judges, particularly their role in providing pointers of success to the nominees and the final winners. She handed over tokens of appreciation to each one of them.
Addressing the winners and the guests in her concluding remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Small, Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development, Mrs Evelyn Ndhlovu said:
The evening ended with a vote of the thanks from the ILO Chief Technical Advisor, Mr Manzoor Khaliq thanking all the guests, judges, winners and finalists for making the competition a success. He implored the Government of Zimbabwe and development partners to carry on with the journey, which has yielded good results for Zimbabwe, in general and the youth, in particular.
The night began with welcome remarks from the ILO Director, Ms Hopolang Phororo, who highlighted the objectives of the competition to complement the “Skills for Youth Employment and Rural Development Programme” with access to finance and business development services to young people with a business idea or existing business. As the Programme comes to an end in December 2015, she hoped that the ILO’s partners and other developmental agencies will be able to adopt and or adapt the models that have been piloted in selected districts over the past five years. She mentioned that “The “enterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge” is by no means the biggest or the best youth entrepreneurship award in this country, but it clearly demonstrates what can be achieved through partnerships.”
Ms Barbra Rwodzi, one of the young successful entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe presented an inspiring speech. She encouraged the thirty nominees to create ‘social enterprises’ which offer job opportunities, as well as provide services which alleviate poverty in their communities. She ended her presentation by urging the youth to, “believe in yourself and follow your dreams. Zimbabwe does not need thinkers but need doers”.
In a brief statement, the Executive Director of the Employer’s Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ), Mr John Mufukare reiterated that the beneficiaries have demonstrated what could be done hence the need to go out there and do it.
The Permanent Secretary of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Ngoni Masoka pointed out that young men and women were now employable because of the skills they had gained.
In her statement, the Ambassador of Netherlands, Her Excellency G. Sneller said, “You have to be creative. Have a mentor and do not fear to fail”. She urged the tripartite constituents to create a conducive environment for the young entrepreneurs to succeed.
The key note address by the Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, who was represented by Honourable Deputy Minister, Mathias Tongofa brought to the fore that the Ministry has adopted the TREE methodology as the national framework for the economic empowerment of youth in Zimbabwe. He looked forward to this methodology being scaled up nationally to benefit all the young people across all the districts of the country.
He further emphasised,
“I am happy to note that all the nominees here have acquired vocational skills, entrepreneurship skills and employability skills through TREE and Quality Improvement in Information Apprenticeship (QIA) so that we economically empower these young people to contribute to Zimbabwe’s economy by becoming job creators”.
The Department for International Development (DFID) Economic Advisor, Mr Dave Mollat who represented the judges pointed out that the nominees’ entries were of high quality. Special mention was stated on the resilience of the nominees in coming up with good proposals and the long term view of their businesses as providing service to community while making profit.
“The enterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge was transparent. Because for someone like me from poor rural Mt Darwin to be among the top winners, then I would say the competition is really transparent”,said Ms Apronia Gurure who scooped the top prize in the Services Sector with her Solar Power Company.
The nine winners in the three sectors are indicated in the table below:
| Category | First Prize | First Runner-Up | Second Runner-Up |
| Agriculture | Molline Sigauke | Enerst Chamanga | Phillipa Sanyatwe |
| Manufacturing | Lisbon Chipendekari | Nathan Mazvarira | Misheck Kadzuramera |
| Services | Apronia Gurure | Siphiwe Ncube | Maggie Mapanga |
The following eight winners in the other categories are as follows:
| Category | Winner |
| Best Start-Up Business | Hazvinei Mariko |
| Best Established Business | Edson Makiyi |
| Best Woman Entrepreneur | Kerina Museredza Mirirai Vheremu |
| Most Innovative Business | Ratidzo Njari |
| Best Green Business | Ratidzo Gwiyo |
| Best Master Crafts Person Business | Clara Nyabadza |
| Best Solar Energy Business | Shingirai Masongorera |
The “enterPRIZE Job Creation Challenge” generated some positive interest and a non-governmental organisation, SNV and some private companies namely; Total Zimbabwe, MicroKing, Royal Business Consult Trust, Cresta Hotel, Holiday Inn and Securico provided additional prizes to the various categories.
The ILO Director appreciated the judges, particularly their role in providing pointers of success to the nominees and the final winners. She handed over tokens of appreciation to each one of them.
Addressing the winners and the guests in her concluding remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Small, Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development, Mrs Evelyn Ndhlovu said:
“the ILO’s model has enabled the youth to research and come up with innovative ideas. There is now need for partnerships to provide market linkages, provision of infrastructure and formalisation of the businesses”.