In Zambia today, the levels of unemployment are alarmingly high and there is no doubt that something has to be done about it. As a patriotic countryman, I want to discuss one very important issue that has to be discussed without any favour.
After the Patriotic Government came into power, the President, HE Michael Sata made pronouncements to build up new universities across the country. Why many will see this as a good move, I see things differently ad beg to disagree. It is only through such positive criticisms that we will help our economy grow. A few people I have talked to have disagreed with me being against the construction of new institutions of learning. I have been accused of not caring for the many uneducated simply because I'm well learned. To the contrary, I mean to save the not so fortunate as I may have been by offering them something in place of missed opportunities they couldn't have growing up. The construction of Universities is a misplaced priority.
Zambia at the moment has hundreds of thousands of young graduates at all levels who are roaming the streets of Zambia because they can not find employment. A university degree in Zambia not accounts for nothing. Let alone a diploma or certificate. Degree holders are competing for jobs as security guards, taking up army jobs, police and many other jobs they shouldn't be considering under normal circumstances. Don't get me wrong, these problems have not been brought by the PF but PF can and should tackle them. It is upon this background that Zambia should not think of offloading more graduates into the job market at the moment. Where are we going to place them if we already have hundreds of thousands unemployed? What good is it to those that will come out with degrees and not get a job? That is simply compounding the problem and not solving any.
You ask, "What the should government do?" Well, government should channel those funds into the financial sector. There is need right now to make funds easily accessible by well meaning citizens with a sound business proposal or plan. Currently, it is practically impossible to borrow for those that want to start up a business. As a result, young graduates just sit home with brilliant ideas because they can't access funds to start up a business. Job creation should not only be viewed as bringing in more Chinese or South African investors to employ our people. We need to start investing in our own people and turn them into employers. Overtime, there will be more jobs available for the youth from these small businesses that may be created. From there, the issue of more universities will happen automatically. Government need to have a deliberate policy to fund all sound business proposals that focus o Manufacturing or food processing or anything else that is done to add value to a product. An economy can only grow if it is engaged in manufacturing. It is time we did away with the service industry. Currently, all sound firms in Zambia are in the Service sector. Banks, Mobile Telecommunications Companies, Water Utility, Power Generation. We eed to grow into other sectors too. Luckily, the Construction Industry is doing really good. I'm looking forward to a time where Food production and Processing will take centre stage, then, we can encourage farming to our youth and we will have dealt a great deal with unemployment.
These are my views and I know they may not be welcomed by some. If you disagree kindly respond to this or write and email me you article and I will publish it. God bless!
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