Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has emphasized the importance of establishing entrepreneurship centers within higher learning institutions as part of a broader strategy to nurture entrepreneurial talent.
These centers would provide essential training, support, and foster collaboration between aspiring entrepreneurs and venture capital firms. Their goal is to guide entrepreneurs in crafting viable business plans and help them navigate the complexities of starting new businesses.
Minister Ncube made the remarks during the official launch of the National Venture Capital Company of Zimbabwe (NVCCZ) in Harare. The NVCCZ is designed to help address the funding challenges faced by startups and early-stage businesses, offering much-needed capital, mentorship, and strategic guidance.
The initiative aims to support high-growth potential ventures and stimulate innovation across the country.
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Minister Ncube noted that Zimbabwe’s government is committed to advancing entrepreneurship through innovation hubs at higher learning institutions, which support students with creative ideas. The NVCCZ plans to collaborate with these hubs to identify and support promising startups.
During the launch event, several startup projects were showcased. These included PureAid Agroprocessors, a company focused on processing tomatoes to reduce post-harvest losses, KumbaCare, a telemedicine application aimed at improving healthcare access in rural Zimbabwe, and Mobility for Africa, a startup that produces electric tricycles to ease the burden of manual labor for rural women.
Mr. Tinotenda Kambasha, the CEO of NVCCZ, highlighted the importance of these projects in driving Zimbabwe’s economic growth and improving livelihoods. The initiative aims to foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that can contribute to the nation’s development while addressing critical challenges faced by communities.
