Eleven young people from five tinkhundlas in the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions have received start-up kits to launch small businesses in cellphone repair within their communities and nearby towns. This follows their successful completion of training in mobile phone repair under the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme (EYEP), which targets young people who have completed high school.

EYEP is a government initiative developed and implemented in partnership with UNDP and funded by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development.

Eswatini continues to face a high youth unemployment rate, with approximately 56 per cent of young people aged 15-35 currently without a source of livelihood. At the same time, the country has a high level of mobile connectivity, with an estimated 134 mobile connections per 100 people, reflecting the widespread use of mobile phones. These devices have become essential tools for communication, business, banking, and education, driving growing demand for skilled repair technicians. Despite this demand, relatively few emaSwati possess the technical skills required to repair mobile devices.

To help address this skills gap, EYEP trained 15 unemployed high school graduates from five tinkhundlas in the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions in mobile phone repair. Of these, the top 10 trainees – seven male and three female – were selected for an advanced course and qualified to receive starter kits. In addition, one trainee who was not part of the advanced course also received a starter kit in recognition of having already started a cellphone repair business in his community shortly after completing the initial training.

The handover ceremony was held at Lubuli Inkhundla in the Lubombo Region, where the Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Hon. Dr. Thambo E. Gina, and the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Henrik Franklin, officiated.

“I’m ready to take the market by storm following our successful training. I’m grateful for this skill and invite community members to bring their phones for repair,” said Sizolwethu Gina, one of the artisans from Lubuli Inkhundla.

“I’m looking forward to setting up my own workshop in my community. I’m grateful to the government and UNDP for this opportunity,” said Mahlalela Gcinile from Mhlume Inkhundla.

Participating tinkhundlas include Lubuli, Matsanjeni South, Mhlume, Shiselweni I, and Sigwe. The Lubombo and Shiselweni regions were prioritised due to limited economic opportunities and fewer livelihood options for young people compared to the Hhohho and Manzini regions.

The eight-week mobile phone repair training, conducted by CIT in Mbabane, equipped participants with practical, market-relevant skills to help them establish sustainable businesses within their communities and nearby towns.

Hon. Gina, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Lubuli, noted that beyond the artisanal skills training showcased at the event, EYEP has made significant progress through its graduate placement stream, creating pathways from education to meaningful employment for thousands of young people.

He added that since its launch in 2023, EYEP has registered 4,128 graduates on the national EYEP portal, which connects young people to real workplace opportunities across both public and private sectors. To date, over 300 graduates have been placed in six-month internships across 66 host institutions, including government ministries, parastatal agencies, private companies, UN agencies, small businesses, and NGOs.

“The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini remains committed to scaling up youth skills training, supporting entrepreneurship, and strengthening digital and artisanal skills for a modern economy. Initiatives such as EYEP and the upcoming Eswatini Youth Employment Opportunities Project (EYEOP) reflect our national vision of inclusive growth and resilient livelihoods,” he said.

In response, Mr. Henrik Franklin noted that in 2026, EYEP, through selected vocational training providers, aims to expand opportunities to reach 250 young people, guided by market demand.

“I would like to once again express our gratitude to the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development for its financial support to this programme. I also thank Parliament for supporting this vision and for guiding us to place greater focus on capacitating youth from the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions, where opportunities are more limited,” he said.

With skills in hand and tools to begin, these young entrepreneurs are now poised to turn opportunity into impact within their communities.