Forget empty African government promises, entrepreneurs are the in-thing

by Justice Zhou

Who would have thought some of the most illustrious and wealthiest entrepreneurs could emerge out of Africa, an area once denounced as a hopeless backwater? Who would even have imagined that quite a number of high net-worth magnates could emerge out of Zimbabwe?

The idea of “Africa Rising” is one that Zimbabweans should promptly embrace and be proud of even as politicians who run the government have betrayed them. We need a new mindset like other Africans, one that looks at entrepreneurship as something that will fill the void left by our bungling politicians.

It’s been proved beyond reasonable doubt that the government isn’t capable of creating the almost 2 million jobs it promised the other day when some politicians were embarking on a treacherous vote-catching exercise.

Notably, seventeen Zimbabwean entrepreneurs are reported to have been selected among a group of 1,000 young entrepreneurs who will benefit from the latest round of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme’s (TEEP) $100 million fund.

The Nigerian billionaire, Tony Elumelu, one of Africa’s most successful entrepreneurs launched Africa’s largest philanthropic fund in 2015 to nurture a culture of entrepreneurship among the youth. Brilliant! 

Facebook, the social networking company, held its initial public offering (IPO) in May, 2012. The Mark Zuckerberg founded company’s IPO was the biggest in technology and one of the biggest in Internet history, with a peak market capitalization of over $104 billion.

It is very interesting how an individual can start an idea, pitch it and investors grab it and turn it into a global corporate behemoth that creates millions of jobs around the world within a short space of time.

Africa is awash with talented individuals who have proved to have the potential to play a part in transforming the world like the American Facebook founder.

Today, Strive Masiyiwa, the Zimbabwean founder of Econet Wireless, Nigerian national Aliko Dangote, South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe and many others, are perfect examples of what Africa is looking for: entrepreneurs. It is the only solution there is to cure the scourges of unemployment, poverty and lack of development.

Sadly, many of Zimbabwe’s most successful entrepreneurs have been condemned into exile by political and economic circumstances in their homeland. But that shouldn't dampen the spirit of entrepreneurship.Africa is indeed rising and there’s no doubt about it.

Zimbabweans should cling to that idea like their African counterparts, especially with a mindset that puts the starting of businesses at the forefront of job creation and development.