Andreas Filippus

While others are on social media to view social pictures or videos of others, some are there posting entrepreneurial motivational talks, sales marketing, business networking and making sales promotions. 

It was again during my spare time when I had to log into my Facebook account, and just landed on the post by Mwa Lwa, a self-employed entrepreneur who was requesting Facebook friends to share her agricultural produce on their timeline for marketing purposes. In her post, I came across a very interesting statement, with her saying “there is no shame in the struggle ”. 

This is a two-in- one statement, where she was seen doing marketing and at the same place motivating others to start small businesses in order to improve their livelihoods and the ones around them. 

On the same post, she is seen to be cautioning fellow youth to avoid fear from others who are seeing hustling for livelihoods as not fashionable. 

Since the start of Covid-19, some of you have witnessed things you have never seen in your entire life on earth. You have seen how the way of doing business started changing every day.

These include public sale marketing, entrepreneurship networking, business summits, open space promotions, entrepreneurial coaching and motivational talk sessions. All these were as a result of lockdowns and restrictions on public gatherings. I want to inform you that the situation where we find ourselves now is not a situation to consider shyness, shame and the fear of what others will say about you. 

You have to give a new shape to yourself. You have seen how the global economic downturn has impacted all business sectors. It is high time to remind yourself that it’s no more about what others prefer you to sell, and where to sell it. As long as you are doing it for a good course. I believe you agree that Covid-19 has taught you a lesson. 

It taught you that you can lose a job as a mineworker, and become a cattle herder or a domestic worker.

As a result, if you put aside shame, you can make use of your retrenchment package and start doing some small business. Sourcing little products here and there, and starting to sell on the streets, from the boot of your VW Polo, at your office table or through social media platforms, is the way forward. 

This will not only help you to earn cents for living, but also positioning the economy to get back to its feet, particularly the informal sector, which is crucial for recovery and growth. There are good examples demonstrating that there is no shame in struggle. Long before Covid-19, there has been a perception among many people about certain business activities which were perceived to be specifically for women only. 

However, since the pandemic started, I begun to see males dominating those businesses, such as kapana, chicken eggs, cosmetic products, footwear, worn clothing and other articles . This is a good wake-up call to all to put aside shame in the struggle.

 I once visited a certain long-distance bus terminal, and that’s where I found a real struggle with no shame. 

Those compatriots were competing for customers while carrying at least two bags of luggage in their hands. It is very tough, and worrying about what others will say about you selling mopane worms will never put anything in your pocket. In conclusion, young men and women, the struggle for global economic recovery is real and long. 

You need to remind yourself about steps you should take to be financially independent during economic hardships. Government needs to appreciate that informal business activities are fundamental in driving the recovery. 

Therefore, government should reconsider more rescue packages. These support packages should be more effective at reaching smaller and younger businesses, the self-employed, as well as women and minority entrepreneurs.