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Roselyne Sachiti in Washington, DC
Young Zimbabwean entrepreneurs should conduct business in an open and transparent manner as this creates opportunities for investment, the country’s ambassador to the United States has said.

Speaking during a reception for 30 Mandela Washington Fellows (MWF 2015) at the Zimbabwe Embassy here on Monday night, Ambassador Amon Mutembwa said formalising small businesses would benefit youths in many ways.

“There are some people who would like to do some things in a subterranean level, but also some who want to do business in the open.

“If you want to add traction and do things in a manner where you will achieve dividends there is no reason to hide in the shadows. Always have audited books for track records, he said.

Ambassador Mutembwa said upon returning home, it was important for fellows to pool their resources and build sustainable businesses out of models they learnt during their six-week stay in the US.

He urged the MWF to remain optimistic and work hard to ensure that the six weeks spent in the US would translate into tangible results that benefits communities in a positive way through employment and sustainable development.

MWF and social entrepreneur Ms Vimbiso Mashumba said the visit to the Zimbabwean Embassy was a perfect end to the fellowship.

“The ambassador’s remarks on young people struck a chord in me as a young entrepreneur. We were encouraged to carry the energy and ideas we have developed over the six weeks to Zimbabwe and make a positive impact,” she said.

Another fellow, Mr Plot Mhako, said the fellowship was empowering and enlightening.

“I had the rare opportunity to connect with amazing young innovative African leaders whose commitment to work towards a brighter future for Africa is unparalleled,” he said.

Social entrepreneur and MWF Ms Rudo Nyangulu Mungofa said she learnt various business and entrepreneurship theories and concepts during business institute experience, cultural as well as professional exchange through peer collaborators.

“Through the other Young African Leaders I have a fresh perspective on Africa as a continent. I have seen how much more we have to offer than we sometimes realize. We also identified ways in which we can collaborate and do business together as a means of changing the narrative of Africa and becoming part of the sustainable solution it needs,” she said.

At the embassy, MWF also got an opportunity to eat an authentic Zimbabwean meal after weeks of American food.

The MWF is a flagship programme of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training and networking.

The fellowship provides 500 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills in US higher education with support for professional development when they go back home.

There were close to 30 000 applications this year.