_Story By_ :*HARRISON JEREMIAH*
Entrepreneurship has become the key to a better living for many youths especially those in the high density suburbs of Zimbabwe's major cities.
In an environment where the majority are crying out loud for jobs, Jortham Jele a youth from the dusty peri urban area of Robert Sinyoka defied odds and ventured into manufacturing.
Jele who is the owner of Jays Legacy, a manufacturing company saw it fit to register and run a company after acquiring skills from different workshops hosted by various stakeholders within the area.
Jele started off as someone who would assist people by doing piece jobs as well as selling milk within the community going into locations surrounding his community. This was his way to put food on the table.
During the COVID-19 pandemic Jele saw an opportunity after Hope For a Child in Christ (HOCIC) a non governmental organization visited Robert Sinyoka area training youths on how to manufacture petroleum jelly.
Jele took part in the session and he discovered that he could further use these skills to manufacture a lot of products used in the households such as floor polish, dishwasher, pinegel, dilutable juices among other detergents.
In an interview with this gazette, Jele narrated how he used this as an opportunity to pave his own way to success.
"I used my own money from my savings to pay to be trained in the sessions. After acquiring the skills i went on to register Jays Legacy, a manufacturing company" said Jele
By this initiative Jele he tackled unemployment as he was able to employ one other member who he works with since the company is still growing.
Jays Legacy manufactures other products such as candles, bubble bath, pine gel, dilutable juices. He also added that his business is growing as he is able to get new customers from outside his area of Robert Sinyoka.
Jays Legacy currently survives from own savings but Jele postulated that he wants to grow big and go even national.
Speaking of some of the challenges he is encountering Jele said that he is not getting any financial support from anyone but his business is surviving from his own savings which hinders growth that he disires.
He said,
"My business survives from my own small savings, these enable me to get raw materials from the industrial site, Belmont.
I have been advised to take loans but without collateral I cannot afford these since I come from a poor family, so that is the main challenge."
He went on to share his resolution for the year, to get a tax clearance with designated authorities as well as get a green light from the Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) after approving his products and get a barcode.
Jele said,
"Currently I am working on getting enough paperwork in order for my business to operate freely. First of all it's that one of SAZ, then after I will do tax clearance and a barcode."
Jele also added that his business can be improved by advertising to attract more customers as he is targeting to supply schools with his products if given a green light by the SAZ
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