B.U.T.A Chairperson Leads Empowerment Efforts for MSMEs in Bulawayo
Bulawayo Upcoming Traders Association (BUTA) Chairperson, Tholakhele Nhlongo is leading the charge to empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Bulawayo. As the head of the B.U.T.A, Nhlongo is dedicated to helping overcome the numerous challenges faced by these businesses.
“When I was voted in as the Chairperson, my inspiration was to lead women to be better people in their business. As MSMEs in the vending sector, we face a lot of challenges, from working space to finances for growing our businesses,” said Nhlongo.
Accessing Loans
Despite the obstacles, B.U.T.A has managed to secure working bays from the Bulawayo City Council and help its members access loans from microfinance companies. The association has also provided training to members on various business skills, including beadwork, detergents making, basic business management, and fruit, and dried food packing.
“One of our goals as an association is to help create employment for women and the youth at large, which will help curb crime that is now out of control as a result of unemployment,” added Nhlongo.
The Effects of COVID-19
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit MSMEs hard, forcing many to shut down or scale back their operations. As a result, B.U.T.A had to find ways to help its members survive during these challenging times.
“The community was much affected by COVID-19, but as the association, we managed to convince the government to allow us to go back to work as long as we abide by the health laws of Zimbabwe,” said Nhlongo.
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B.U.T.A also worked closely with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development, Micro, Small to Medium Enterprises to form the Bulawayo working group for MSMEs. They affiliated with the Bulawayo Chamber of MSMEs, which has helped strengthen their relationship with their major stakeholder, the Bulawayo City Council.
Empowering Women
“Our vision is for women to be the power hub for creating employment for women and the youth at large. By coming together and implementing ideas that can put Bulawayo on the map, we can make a difference,” said Nhlongo.
Lastly, Nhlongo’s unwavering commitment, alongside collaboration with government and other stakeholders, aims to establish traders as a force in job creation and contribute to the economic growth of Zimbabwe. Despite the obstacles, Nhlongo and B.U.T.A remain hopeful that MSMEs can not only survive but also thrive with the right support and resources.
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