Youths urged to tap opportunities, uphold peace

DODOMA: THE government has urged young people to seize expanding economic opportunities instead of engaging in activities that undermine peace, citing its massive investments in markets, youth financing and business infrastructure to support self-employment.

Speaking during a visit to the Machinga Complex in Dodoma yesterday, Chief Government Spokesperson and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Gerson Msigwa, said the sixth phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan has made youth economic empowerment a key priority by creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurship.

Elaborating, he noted that the government has already completed 10 of the 15 modern markets being built for petty traders nationwide at a cost of 15bn/-, while another 30 regional-standard markets worth about 240bn/- have been constructed to create business opportunities for thousands of traders, most of them young people and women.

He said the markets are providing thousands of young entrepreneurs with secure and organised trading spaces where they can build sustainable livelihoods.

“The opportunities are there. Young people should not spend their time complaining about the economy or engaging in unrest. The place to build your future is in the marketplace, not on the streets causing chaos,” Mr Msigwa pointed out.

He said the market investments form part of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s broader agenda to strengthen entrepreneurship, improve livelihoods and drive inclusive economic growth.

Mr Msigwa added that the government has expanded access to finance through a special 200bn/- youth loan facility and additional funding channelled through local government authorities.

More than 55bn/- has already been disbursed under various youth empowerment programmes, while councils have increased allocations from locally generated revenue from 10 to 15 per cent, with a significant share earmarked for youth economic activities.

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“The government’s responsibility is to create opportunities, provide infrastructure and make financing available. The responsibility of young people is to seize those opportunities, work hard and build their future,” he said.

Mr Msigwa also cautioned young people against individuals seeking to lure them into activities that could undermine peace and national development.

“There is no shortcut to prosperity. No country becomes wealthy by encouraging its youth to destroy property or engage in violence. Wealth comes through hard work, business and productivity,” he stressed.

He said the government will continue investing in infrastructure that supports entrepreneurship, including additional markets planned for Kisasa and Kizota in Dodoma City, while local authorities are also constructing community markets to expand business opportunities.

Mr Msigwa commended traders at the Dodoma Machinga Complex, saying the facility demonstrates how government investment is linking producers with consumers by providing reliable outlets for agricultural produce, cooking oil, cereals, vegetables and other locally manufactured goods.

“This is exactly what President Samia wants to see our farmers producing, our traders selling and our young people earning decent incomes through honest work,” he said.