SWAZILAND: Old Entrepreneurs Have No Markets for Honey, Fish

MBABANE, Swaziland (The Swazi Observer), August 21, 2006: Residents of Lamgabhi area told Chief Sipho Shongwe, Minister of Regional Development and Youth Affairs, on August 17 that they had engaged in several projects but their effort was watered down by lack of a market. The projects were initiated through money acquired from the Regional Development Fund. The minister had visited the area to tour projects which had been started through the fund. Simangele Jele, a member of the Old Aged Association, said: "This is an association formed by the community’s elderly. We do bee-keeping and grow fish. When we started we were 10 but the number have decreased to eight. "One of the biggest problems we face is that we don’t have market. Since we are old, we are unable to go and sell our products to far away places. Another problem is theft. Some of the community members fish without permission.” She added that they needed equipment, further asking the minister to assist in whichever way possible. Shongwe stated that they should report to the area’s indvuna. He also made a plea to community members to respect other people’s property. © The Swazi Observer. All Rights Reserved.