By Precious Moyo
The Government of Zimbabwe has opened a Cosmetology hub in Bulawayo in its effort to promote especially young women who venture into beauty therapy.
Speaking during the launch of the hub in the city center yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Mrs Yeukai Simbanegavi said the hub which mostly targets young women seeks to address the high unemployment rate among youths.
“The rate of job creation no longer matches the rate of job seekers. The mismatch between jobs and job seekers growth rate points to the need to create hubs that will create the much needed jobs,” she said.
The hub will house 50 beauty therapists and will also provide internship opportunities to an equal number of students.
“The main objective of the hub is to provide work space equipped with competitiveness business equipment on a Rent-A chair model for 50 professional hair dressers, beauticians, massage therapists and barbers,” said Mrs Simbanegavi.
The deputy minister said employment creation starts by promoting local talent before eyeing for foreign investors.
“I have a strong belief that Zimbabwe is full of talent. We have young ladies here who are talented in dress making, hairdressing and so forth. We first have to promote such talents in order to create employment,” she said.
She said promoting entrepreneurship among youths is a way of supporting job creation by encouraging business start ups and employment.
The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Mrs Judith Ncube welcomed the initiative saying it is a step towards women empowerment in the city and retain its status of being an industrial hub.
She challenged beneficiaries of the hub to embrace hard work and cultivate their entrepreneurship skills.
“Let’s all take advantage of this project and maximise on cultivating our talents. Creating employment starts by you putting efforts to use your God-given talents,” she said.
Young women in Bulawayo welcomed the initiative saying it will go a long way in changing their lives.
Giving a testimony before the delegates of the official launch, Getrude Khanye (36) who is a single mother of four said the economic challenges at hands needs young women who use their hands.
Khanye who is now an employer through hairdressing encouraged other ladies to take advantage of the hub.
“Women in Bulawayo welcome this initiative with open hands because we are going to benefit from the hub. I urge young ladies out there to wake up and smell the coffee, it’s no longer time to sit on your hands moaning lack of employment, you better work on your own,” she said
Another young lady, Ms Lentso Bennson Masine (25) who is a single mother commended Government’s initiative saying it pays to work with own hands.
“This is a good thing that Government has done for us. We now have professional space to work from. Being your own employer is the most interesting thing. I am a single mother and am looking forward to opening my own shop,” she said
