Mbabane – The Municipal Council of Mbabane (MCM) pledges to meet the city’s youth halfway through empowerment programs that contribute to lowering the country’s high unemployment rate.
Speaking at the official launch of the landscaping project known as the Grass Cutting Services Project for young entrepreneurs in Mbabane, MCM CEO Gciniwe Fakudze stated that they were acknowledging the socioeconomic realities that the city’s youth face.
“We acknowledge the socio-economic realities facing young people in Mbabane. While the city’s youth are educated, resilient, and full of potential, unemployment, poverty, and limited economic opportunities continue to present significant challenges. Youth unemployment remains above 50%; nearly half of young people are not in employment, education, or training, and approximately 80% of employed youth operate within the informal economy. At the same time, there is strong entrepreneurial interest among young people, creating an opportunity for targeted interventions that support enterprise development, skills enhancement, and access to finance,” Fakudze said. 
She commended 12 successful entrepreneurs in that thor response to the Request for Quotations (RFQ) and taking a proactive step towards entrepreneurship and self-employment led to their selection.
The pilot Grass Cutting Services Project is a joint project by MCM, the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF), and other stakeholders which serves as a practical response to youth unemployment and enterprise development and will run for six months.
The MCM places youth empowerment as a key priority under the city’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy with the LED unit promoting economic inclusion, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods through youth-focused programmes and partnerships.
MCM’s business support ecosystem includes business facilitation services, regulatory support, entrepreneurship programmes, and partnerships that create opportunities for youth-owned enterprises.
Fakudze stressed the combination of service delivery contracts with business development, mentorship, and capacity-building support to strengthen participants’ long-term business prospects.
“The Service Level Agreement (SLA) represents a formal commitment between MCM and the youth beneficiaries, outlining responsibilities, performance expectations, and service standards.
“The successful implementation and strong performance under the SLA will create opportunities for future engagements with Council and may position participants for contracts with other organisations,” Fakudze said.
Entrepreneurs were encouraged to properly manage and maintain their equipment as significant assets for future growth and sustainability. Participants were also advised to maintain a professional demeanour at all times while adhering to customer service, discipline, compliance, and accountability, as they will be representing both their businesses and the municipality.
“Participants are encouraged to maximise this opportunity by developing practical skills in financial management, teamwork, customer relations, business operations, and service excellence that will support their long-term entrepreneurial journey and contribute to the transformation of Mbabane into a vibrant and economically inclusive city,” she said.
