YOUNG people must use social media effectively to boost business operations through research and gathering of new innovative ideas, Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Francis Nhema has said.
Due to increased access to internet services in the country, there is concern that young people are abusing the service and failing to use the platform to become more productive by extracting developmental and constructive information.
Speaking at the Harare Youth Expo, Nhema said social media platforms were important in exchanging and sharing business information.
“Young people should be able to use social network sites such as facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter positively to grow their businesses,” said Nhema.
“You cannot just always go on facebook viewing useless materials, but rather create informative, relevant content at a rate that does not become annoying to the people who follow your social media.
“Social media is an effective way for small businesses to connect with customers.”
Minister Nhema said young people should not have their focus diverted by sites that compromise their moral values.
“Young people should not be viewed as outcast by the society because they are one of the main pillars of national development,” he said.
“Therefore, our young generation should demonstrate high levels of discipline by upholding good morals so that the society gains confidence in dealing with them and supporting their businesses.”
In an interview with The Patriot, Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC) director Livingstone Dzikira said the main theme of the event was to encourage interaction between young people and the corporate sector.
“We believe that for young people to be able to grow their businesses there should be interaction or connection with the corporate sector in the provision of goods and services,” said Dzikira.
“Most youths are failing to interact with big companies therefore the Expo was a platform for young people to exchange notes with the corporate sector, and mainly for them to establish business linkages with these companies.
“Interaction with the corporate sector creates opportunities to grow businesses.”
Dzikira said the participation of youths in economic activities through the empowerment programme was increasing.
“Due to low performance of our economy, youth business activities are also low, but it is pleasing that we are noting that young people’s involvement in economic development is picking up,” he said.
“The Government should continue supporting youth initiatives to reduce levels of unemployment rate and increase the availability of goods in the country.”
The ZYC director also encouraged youths to be innovative to boost operations of their businesses.
“Opportunities come to those who are hardworking, young people should not hesitate to take up different business initiative as they hold the future of the country’s economy,” Dzikira said.
“Youths should change their negative attitudes on the indigenisation policy and venture into various business sectors to revive the country’s fortunes.”
Meanwhile, Minister Nhema launched a new agricultural based youth movement called Federation of Young Farmers Club in Zimbabwe at the expo.
The federation’s representative, Philip Sewera, said the movement was aimed at boosting the availability of food in the country.
He said most farmers in the country were focusing on growing cash crops such as tobacco due to its favourable market price neglecting production of the staple food, maize.
“Our movement’s focus is to feed the nation and boost food security by encouraging young people to take various farming activities through establishment of farming clubs countrywide,” Sewera said.
“We want to focus on growing small units of our staple food.”
The youth expo saw more than 50 exhibitors mainly composed of youth entrepreneurs from different sectors showcasing their products and services and interacting with the business community.