Dodoma. Out of the ten young people who decided to be self-employed and spoke to The Chanzo, no one spoke in a way that indicated regret or uncertainty about what they were doing.

All the young people, aged between 20 and 40, from Tanzania’s capital, seem to be enjoying themselves and proud of their life decisions, urging their peers to follow in their footsteps.

You will remember that the call for young people to become self-employed has been emphasised a lot recently, especially by politicians. This has been accompanied by reports that mention Tanzania as one of the African countries with a significant unemployment problem.

The government and other stakeholders have openly acknowledged that while it is making various efforts to address this issue, which some call a “ticking time bomb,” it is not possible for all graduates to be employed. They are urged to seize the various opportunities available in the country to become self-employed.

However, this call has generated mixed feelings among stakeholders, with some urging the government to stop doing “politics” and create jobs that will help young people. Others have claimed that these voices will be noise if the policy, legal, and regulatory environments do not change to enable young people to become self-employed.

READ MORE: CCM Promised Youth Jobs, It Should Deliver Instead of Preaching Self-employment

However, in conversations with various self-employed young people in the city, The Chanzo found that, while many challenges continue to confront them, these energetic entrepreneurs have never regretted their decision to become self-employed.

‘I’m free’

Christopher Magesa is a member of the Tusumuke Group, a group of ten young people involved in chick-hatching in Dodoma. They benefited from a council loan of Sh30 million, which enabled them to buy hatching machines and build a facility to conduct their business.

“Many young people have had a mindset that without government employment, life cannot progress,” said Masega, 34, a graduate of Mati Uyole, a government agricultural and livestock college, as he was arranging chicken eggs in a black basin.

“Young people don’t believe in the things we do,” added the entrepreneur. “Also, many of us young people have been taught to memorise. We are taught to memorise in school to pass exams, but not to return to the community to solve social challenges.”

Aziza Athumani Konyo started BSF Envicare Investment, which produces animal feed and fertiliser from waste, after spending many years of her life waiting to be employed. She currently produces between 30 and 40 kilogrammes of animal feed and fertiliser daily and intends to make between two and three tons daily.

READ MORE: ‘We Speak for the Dead’: Against Collective Vilification of the Victims of State-Sanctioned Poverty in Tanzania

“Self-employment has increased my income,” Aziza said in her interview with The Chanzo. “But it has also made me an entrepreneur who can lift myself and others out of poverty and dependence.”

Aziza Athumani Konyo describes her self-employment journey and what she has achieved so far during an interview with The Chanzo. PHOTO | JACKLINE KUWANDA.

A Dodoma Youth Power group member engaged in traditional and hybrid chicken farming, Ibrahim Juma, 23, says that self-employment has helped him and his group members improve their economic situation and support the surrounding community. He explains: “We have made great strides. I remember we started without an office back then. But now we have our own office.”

Samwel Mjirima, 29, is a graduate of the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and the chairperson of a youth group that sells and produces grape wine in Dodoma. He says he’s proud of his self-employment journey.

“We have reached a significant milestone,” said Samwel joyfully. “Through self-employment, I have met basic needs such as paying taxes. But we have also empowered ourselves economically.”

Frank Jordan is a journalist and co-founder of Jordan Media, a media company based in Dodoma. He says about his self-employment journey: “Self-employment has changed my life. In the beginning, when I started, I was struggling. Now, my life is driven by journalism. I thank God for how far I have reached.”

Battles

These inspiring stories from young people who have chosen to be self-employed do not mean their journeys were as easy as walking in the park. They told The Chanzo that they have to deal with various challenges to ensure the survival of their businesses. However, they do not allow these challenges to discourage them.

READ MORE: Second Phase of Skills for Employment Tanzania Project (SET II) Launched in Dar

Aisha Msantu is the Executive Director of Glaring Future Foundation (GFF), a non-governmental organisation she co-founded in 2019 with others to empower young people economically. Msantu, 27, says that she and her colleagues had to fight hard to ensure their institution stands and achieves the dreams they had.

“Since this organisation was registered, it has been five years, and three years ago, it wasn’t easy,” admits Msantu. “There were times I questioned why I started this; maybe I should quit and do something else. But the determination to continue fighting for what we chose, we have seen it bring results.”

Aisha Msantu, Executive Director of GFF, believes that having a fighting spirit and faith in what you do are the foundations for success in self-employment. PHOTO | JACKLINE KUWANDA.

Lucas Sospeter owns and runs Smart Jeans, a clothing store that targets mainly women. Sospeter, 39, left his job as an employee to start his store, admitting that it wasn’t easy initially.

“I remember when I started, I tried several things and failed,” said Sospeter. “Then I tried what I am doing now, and I succeeded. If you work hard, dedicate your time to what you do, and love it, you will see its value. Also, by putting God first, you will see growth day by day. I see that I have made some progress.”

For Festo Thomas, whose company breeds and sells bee products, to live is to have the ability to face various challenges. He points out that being self-employed or employed is not a license to avoid facing challenges because challenges are a part of life.

READ MORE: Disoriented Education: Why University Degree Is Now More Questionable Than Ever?

“I have learned that there are challenges everywhere – whether you are employed or self-employed,” said Thomas, 31. “You just choose which challenges to endure. Today, when I look at my employed peers, I see challenges I feel fortunate not to have when I reflect on them.”

Government’s responsibility

While these young people continue their efforts to economically empower themselves and their families, they firmly believe that the government has a significant responsibility to assist both the self-employed and the aspiring self-employed.

Lucas Sospeter, who is self-employed by selling women’s wear, believes that if you work hard, dedicate your time to what you do, and love it, you will see its value. PHOTO | JACKLINE KUWANDA.

Some of their recommendations include the government establishing procedures for establishing companies that align with the investment standards made by young people and which young people will find friendly.

A major criticism that The Chanzo heard from the young people it spoke to is that government authorities often treat young people seeking self-employment similarly to other large investors.

“We have been facing challenges with the government authorities,” Mjirima said. “When you go there, they treat you like a big business owner. Meeting those costs and requirements can be challenging, and you might even lose the motivation to continue pursuing your goal.”

READ MORE: How Can Tanzanian Youth Benefit From New EU’s Youth Action Plan?

“I suggest we should change our education system and move away from the theory young people have that they should be employed upon graduation,” advised Msantu. “Let’s offer different subjects in our education systems. This will give young people a broader field to self-employ in things they find suitable.”

Regarding the issue of capital, which many young people have cited as the number one obstacle in their self-employment journey, Bryson Kitova, who is involved in horticulture, believes that while the government has a responsibility to enable more young people to access capital, young people can start by using whatever little they have.

“Capital is important, but it’s also crucial not to view large capital as the sole foundation for self-employment,” advises Kitova, 35. “You can start self-employment even with a small capital and then succeed in acquiring larger capital that you can invest in your business.”

Jackline Kuwanda is The Chanzo’s journalist based in Dodoma. You can reach her at jackline@thechanzo.com.