Small risks, big vision behind a young entrepreneur

DAR ES SALAAM: FROM zero to something, Ms Shununa Haji’s online business story is a summary of calculated risks and resolute believe and persistence in pursuit of becoming a tycoon e-commerce entrepreneur in Tanzania.

Her business dubbed Abayatul Al Shununa, a start-up clothing venture is currently valued at 2m/-, started three years ago in her bedroom in Dar es Salaam with only 50,000/- as capital, where she turned the room into a shop.

She has been selling abaya, gowns and hijab, one of the most preferable clothes by women in Eastern parts of the country including Dar es Salaam, Coast and Tanga Regions.

In an interview with the ‘Daily News’ yesterday, Ms Shununa said she has come a long way, dedicating efforts to build trust to his customers by selling to them high quality products. She is 25 years old with a threeyear experience in online business.

Beginning her business journey with 50,000/-, Ms Haji said by that time she could visit abaya wholesale shops in Dar es Salaam, pick top brands and sell them through her digital platforms, a move that enabled her to earn royalties as returns. Overtime, she managed to start her own business in her bedroom as the shop.

“I decided to organise and decorate well my bedroom into an attractive shop. I don’t worry about that as long as I know where I’m heading,”

Ms Haji told the ‘Daily News.’ She draws inspiration from her parents who run several businesses in Dar es Salaam.

Ms Haji has been making loyal customers through her digital platforms especially TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp, delivering the clothes to about 60 people per month. “As the days go, the customers increase significantly,” she said.

As an online retailer, Ms Haji has been purchasing clothes from the Kariakoo Market for resale digitally. Looking ahead, she said after the next two years, she plans to open up a clothing store in Dar es Salaam.

She advised fellow youth in Tanzania to monetise their social media accounts saying they offer a wider wireless marketplace for them to sell their products and make money.

“Fellow youth should not take for granted the social media as they provide tremendous opportunities for businesses. They should use the platform wisely to generate income. Look at me from beginning with a 50,000 shilling business to 2m/- ,” Ms Haji said.

Adding “I believe my capital will grow more and more,” She underlined the importance of all the youth to believe in their business ideas and pursue their dreams with determination and without fear.

However, Ms Haji noted that many youths still lack online business skills across the country, the pressing challenge that causes them to underuse the platforms economically.

In that regard, she requested the government to initiate special online business training programmes for the youth across the country.

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She suggested the government to establish national online business symposiums, the gatherings which will bring together millions of youth in the country to exchange skills on among others digital marketing and financial skills.

Briefing with reporters recently in Dar es Salaam, Minister of State in the President Office-Youth Development Dr Joel Nanauka outlined ambitious strategies to empower youth economically ranging from supporting ideas, innovations, financing start-up businesses and establishing over 100,000 youth-led companies to drive the manufacturing sector and the country’s economy at large.

The initiative intends to stir innovation and export as well as create jobs in line with ruling CCM’s Election Manifesto 2025-2030 which seeks to create about eight million jobs within the next five years.

“The government is committed to empowering youth economically to make a shift from owning micro-businesses to running major companies and leading the manufacturing economy,” Dr Nanauka said.

Adding “we want to have a huge portion of youth who are producers and manufacturers,”

He said the ministry under a youth investment programme in the next five years aims at establishing over 100,000 youth led companies out of which 20,000 will be accommodated in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in collaboration with the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) to benefit with a designated funding scheme encompassing asset financing.

Asset financing helps businesses acquire necessary equipment and machinery.

He said the shortlisted 20,000 youth lead manufacturing companies will be required to create at least 50 jobs in contributing to the ministry’s mission of generating about one million jobs in the next five years.

Dr Nanauka said the youth led companies in SEZs will invest in priority sectors including agroprocessing and digital creative industries.

He noted that placement of youth led manufacturing companies in SEZs will earn them trust from the private sector including banks to support them financially.

He insisted that the SEZs will have inbuilt supportive investment infrastructures including electricity and Information Communication Technology (ICT) featured by the TISEZA’s One Stop Facilitation Centre to address the need of the youth manufacturers.

He said the ministry will diversify sources of capital for youth by establishing credit guarantee scheme and requesting banks to open up full-fledged youth investment window for them to access affordable loans not necessarily with collateral.

Furthermore, he said his docket has an indicative budget of 8bn/- which will be used to provide capital to youth-led businesses.

Dr Nanauka explained that the funds are part of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s 200bn/- pledge within first 100 days in office for financing citizens’ businesses owned by the youth.

In ensuring youth excel in businesses, Dr Nanauka said all the initiatives on empowering youth economically will be complemented by coaching and mentorship aiming at enriching them with marketing, resiliency, volunteerism and entrepreneurship skills.

Optimistic about the future of digital economy, Dr Nanauka said the government is set to establish an Open Coding School for the youth to acquire digital skills which are useful in digitalising their economic activities.

He underlined the importance of the young generation to use digital space for economic development saying digital space offers massive opportunities which the youth can earn incomes beyond using them only for communication. Statistically, Dr Nanauka reminded that youth currently form over 50 per cent of the country’s workforce.