NAREP leader Elias Chipimo today launched an ambitious programme aimed at creating job opportunities for the millions of unemployed young people in Zambia.
Under the plan, Mr. Chipimo is proposing that government sets aside 10 percent of its supply contracts to the public sector for enterprises run by young people and women as a way of empowering them.
Mr. Chipimo stated that the PF came to power on a promise of jobs and more money in the pockets of the people but noted that after a full year in power, it has become increasingly clear that this was a false hope.
He was speaking in Lusaka this afternoon during a media briefing to launch the NAREP employment and empowerment Initiative.
Mr. Chipimo said NAREP has developed the NAREP empowerment and employment Initiative that would create immediate jobs and help to draw many current and future vendors off the streets by promoting sustainable livelihoods.
“The initiative involves the adoption of a policy by government to allocate 10 percent of all its procurement of goods and services to youth and women enterprises that would also specifically target street vendors. This would in time be extended to the private sector,” he said.
He said Government spends over 10 trillion Kwacha per year on procurement of local goods and services adding that it is estimated that this move alone would deliver up to 1,000 billion (or one trillion) Kwacha worth of orders to youth and women’s enterprises each year.
“In order to benefit, these enterprises should be made up of between 5 and 10 people and be registered with PACRA, Workers Compensation, ZRA, NAPSA and other such entities through an established youth or women’s NGO,” said Mr. Chipimo.
“There will be a fast-track system for registering the youth and women’s enterprises with PACRA, NAPSA, Workers Compensation, ZRA etc.) and vendors would only be required to pay for these charges once they had executed their first orders and been paid.”
The NAREP leader said members of these youth and women’s enterprises will be trained to enable them to deliver on these orders through established NGO’s that are registered.
“In order to deal with political interference and partisan selection for contracts, the system would be administered through 4 banks and financial institutions that would be invited to bid to administer the funds for procurement,” he explained.
He said once adopted by government, the NAREP empowerment and employment Initiative will go a long way towards reducing unemployment and its negative effects on society.
“We have set ourselves the task of collecting one million signatures to support the implementation of the NAREP Empowerment and Employment Initiative by 2 March 2013 a date which will coincide with the 3rd anniversary of the launch of our Party.”
“If the government fails to implement this plan, they would have said no to the wishes of over 1 million people and come election time, you know where those 1 million people would be voting,” he warned.
dream on
He is very bitter
Sounds like an NGO now…
Mr Chipimo, we appreciate yo effort but where will the kaponyas get the initial capital to kickstart the procurement process? And how are you going to make sure the cureent big fish holding on to these deals let go to pave way for the inclusion of the youth? I think you should have methioned other ideas of creating employment
Give jobs to educated people instead of cadres.
Give oil contracts to women instead of ministers.
Get back the 14billion owed by the Post and then nationalize it in that order.
Stop putting people in government jobs just because of thier names.
My 4 step process to a better Zambia.
This is a splendid idea and should be supported by all whose desire is to empower the people of mother Zambia. The burden of reducing poverty should be borne by all of us working together and not left to a few. Keep it up NAREP!!
Way to go boss.Hope it won`t die a natural death like general Miyanda`s village concept.
Dear Mo Taim#6, correction, the Village Concept is NOT dead at all. To be honest, it is a concept which is simply ahead of its time for Zambia. Do you really understand the Village Concept? Please note, ALL, and I mean ALL, developed Countries on earth are founded on the Village Concept albeit under a different name. And as the saying goes ‘A rose under any other name is still a rose and it smells as good’…
Chilombo of comment No. 1, If this is a dream then its worth the sleep because even Martin Luther King jr. at least had a dream. Give the dream chance to come to fruition!!
Am afraid I have to say that this plan sounds very shallow and pretty much political rhetoric. Does this kid have any economists on his team?
Sorry I have to echo what #1 has said , dream on. Youth unemployment in Zambia is not a function of lack of a piece of government contracts. If NAREP thinks so they are just being simplistic and shallow about this.
Youth unemployment is a complex issue, and we have to be clear about what jobs we are talking about. Our economy is still suffering from lack of specialised skills that need to take this country forward.
Pouring money into an unskilled sector just to give jobs to people is not the answer. You might as well ask people to build a road in Zambia using spoons, knives and folks.-that will absorb all the unemployed youths. TB
Lol
Couldn’t agree more with you. He is probably trying to use this policy as a way to get into government. The problem with these politicians is the fact that they lack honesty to world over. They keep promising what they have almost or no control over. I mean, look at the UK and US of A they are struggling but keep promising more jobs when they do not have to capacity to create jobs. The UK government pumps in more money in the economy one day the next a multi national company announces office closures.
Mmmh.
KAYAAAAAAA PA ZED!!!!
Pouring money into sectors that have the potential to create more jobs and grow our economy is the way forward. How does giving contracts to unskilled people to provide services to the Government create jobs and move country forward.
I think what we need is basically, upgrade our education system so we produce workers needed for the new digital and service economy. Pour money into making it easier for people to go into Agriculture and get trade agreements that will allow our people to exports goods and services from our commodities to world markets. Use Zambia’s central location to create manufacturing hubs or centres.
This is the kind of thinking I was expecting from a young leader. Instead he is talking about this Empowerment nonsense.
but where have u been of late?
Also education is key and MMD under RB poured more resources into rolling out more schools and upgrading them and the current government needs to continue with this.
Everybody on this blog who was poor will testify to the fact that the ticket that got them out of poverty was Education. And so Eduction it should be. This short term thinking of NAREP will wreck our country for ever.
All the Asian economies people envy are all underpinned by a very serious underlying education system that is able to deliver the required skills to grow the economy and Zambian politicians and Africans politicians too need to realise this.
Bootliker, yours are wise words. I wish opposition leaders like young chipimo can have advisers like you.
Am not a politician,but good points.
Your proposition is logical but the practicalities are fallacious. We recommend Education for the productive sectors and not the service sector. Most of the unemployed youths in Zambia are those with service oriented education background. The service sector is not sustainable when the productive sector is operating at its barest minimum. The production sector is what will create employment in Zambia. Just Reconsider your proposition MMD Chief Bootlicker
Mr Chipimo, your idea is not new, we have already suggested this plan as PF. When the President visited Botswana, I did suggest this plan to the President through the note I wrote to him. It’s a good plan if implemented in full. Thanks any way.
Kalelota akaiche, kalefwaya inchito from the family tree mfulunde,
this is just an academic exercise..!
Akubuteni, ba Chipimo
This lady is funny my goodness me.
Yaba ! Awe kwena webo waba notwebo mwe.lol
Gibberish – what is she saying?
Govrt suppling is business for cadres ,watch out.
Somebody wrote on NAREP being an NGO, I said that before. Chipimo’s ideas & acts are very NGOish, picking up papers in street or dreaming for jobs of youths supplying crushed stones on wheel-barrows. Next time we hear his NGO NAREP distributing condoms in streets.
lolest
Ba chipimo you are not opposition you are part of pf next will hear you have taken diplomatic job come on you are not what we need you are too soft on pf you eat from the same table.employment is a complex issue we need an economist to give us hope .mwanawasa was a lawyer see what he did now we have a cop see he can’t listen to anyone not even you.let’s try HH
Chipimo is chocked by bitterness and full of hatred that Sata is now in state house and is now earmarked for a successful rerun in 2016. Dream on under five!
To address poverty we need to start from the basics. The basics are PRIMARILY EDUCATION, EDUCATION AND EDUCATION. I am afraid to say if we don’t look at it that way, we are in trouble and there is no short cut!
Tenderpreneurship is not a youth jobs plan. It won’t create any wealth for the country. Just more public expenditure with very little return. The country needs to have laser focus on Agriculture and agro processing industries. These have a quick turn around time in both employment creation and return on investments!
Dear Mo Taim#6, correction, the Village Concept is NOT dead at all. To be honest, it is a concept which is simply ahead of its time for Zambia. Do you really understand the Village Concept? Please note, ALL, and I mean ALL, developed Countries on earth are founded on the Village Concept albeit under a different name. And as the saying goes ‘A rose under any other name is still a rose and it smells as good’.
Unfortunately the Village concept is only understood by you and the General.
Dear Kavundula, is this the best you can do to make a contribution to this debate? If you live in UK as the flag suggests, then surely you should know better. Zambia even borrows money from Countries that have had the Village Concept in their midst for Centuries.
Before there were towns villages existed, let’s not make it look that simplistic, this concept is a very brilliant idea, except for some people who don’t really understand it. The General did not receive that much favor due to a lot of misunderstanding by those who merely wanted change, it’s funny how those who can provide true leadership for this country are diregarded in preference to crooked politicians bent only on enriching themselves.
CIPINYOOOOOKOOO WAAWAAAA
This is certainly a step in the right direction and should be supported by all well meaning Zambians… Its good to see that NAREP appreciates the acute value of SMEs in employment creation… Unlike some of the commentors, scholars and Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) literature acknowledges the roles of multiple actors in microenterprise development and as such, it makes sense to incorporate NGOs to build supply side capacities in these enterprises… My only contention is that 10% procurement reservation may not be sufficient to a dent on unemployment… I therefore contend that local procurement should be in the region of 30-50 percent of which a further 66 percent (20 – 33% of total local procurement in real terms) should be dominated by the youth and women`s led enterprises…
WE NEED IMAGE BUILDERS TO SHAPE CHIPIMO’ S FACE B4 WE EVEN START ENGAGING HIM IN POLITICS.
If this is tje kind of leadeship we have in Zambia, i am afraid, we are headed for doom as a country. Its high timne we looked at these politicians and tell them off that we are not st..pd as zambians. Let them use their brains and not just put up useless plans. I am ready to draft one workable plan for Zambia if you need one
Very disappointing coming from a young man aspiring to go to plot 1.
Mr Chipimo is right because in a country like Zambia where the biggest buyer of goods and services is the government, the same government must ensure that the its supply chain favors Zambian businesses. Yes the supply chain must favor that peasant farmer in monze, yes that kamalasha in mongu must benefit from the government supply chain. Poverty is not the “will of God”.
That is, perhaps, NAREP manifesto. Wait till you win presidential elections in thirty years time.
Chipimo’s idea will work in the short term; like typical UNIP policies, it will spawn anarchy in the longterm as it has the potential of creating blackmailers and holdups. As Bootlicker # 10, 11 suggests we need to start looking at smarter solutions around education and genuine entrepreneurship. Chile is trying to establish itself as the Silicon Valley of Southern America by using means that have helped grow America – we could take a leaf from that, too… EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION.
Having no plan is not an option. So, as a starting point, its better to have a bad plan than none at all. Call it ‘Work in progress’, and then panel-beat it into some shape taking into accounts all foreseeable pros and cons. But I will be the first to admit this particular plan by NAREP requires a heck of a panel beating before even thinking of trial runs because it is taking a lot of things for granted.
Pf sub party, if you have obsaved fellow zambians every pf suppoter is narep suppoter too.
The govt is full of pipo from known provinces and you can imagine if you cant speak the language or tribe?
I’m guessing this NAREP PR is summary of a detailed strategy… otherwise this is too skeletol to impact on unemployment and money in the pocket….by the way how old in Chipomo Jnr.. just because he is junior does not mean is young.. the face looks like it has done some mileage…
THIS SUGGESTION FROM THE NAREP LEADER ARE FAILED SOCIALIST POLICIES.THEY ARE POPULIST SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS. BWANA INVEST IN TRAINING, EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND CUT DOWN ON EXCESSES AND CORRUPTION OF THE RULING CLASS, WE SHALL BE THERE. FINALLY ENGAGE INTELLECTUALS INTO CRITICAL THINKING.
Not a bad idea. Mind you, execution would be difficult. But it is the first time any party has published a plan of action in Zambia. We also need to spend money on ICT infrastructure. Obsession with building roads must end. Affordable and reliable internet access is just as important as passable roads.
Firstly Mr Chipimo, you require a mandate. Before your comments becaome relevant. Otherwise you are as irrelevant as HH, unfortunately
How many parliamentary seats does NAREP have? Otherwise don’t kupanga chongo hahaha
THERE’S A LOT OF EMPOWERMENT SENSE IN WHAT CHIPIMO’S SAYING. THIS TO ME SOUNDS LIKE THE YOUTH AND WOMEN FORMING UP SUPPLIER COPERATIVES WHOSE MAIN CUSTOMER IS THE GRZ. THROUGH SUPPLYING GRZ THESE COOPERATIVES WOULD PERFECT THEIR SKILLS AND IN EVEN START SUPPLYING OTHER CORPOERATE BUSINESSES.
Promote private entrepreneurship not burden up the government with a lot of noise and half baked ideas. Banks training people, do you know how much they will charge per person? As a political party this shows that NAREP does not value higher education. Talk of investing in higher education not basics schools like the MMD. This idea should remain as an idea, if implemented only the banks will benefit. People need JOBS not entrepreneurship ideas tangled up in red tape.
Better than HH who has nothing to offer apart from criticism day and night
The More you buy and sale chines products ,is the more you create jobs in china.
More machines are being inverted ,that are replacing human beings in factories.
They are saying its a solution to strikes and high wage bills.
yawning. next story and dream
Way to go Mr. Chipimo! / NERAP! The youth of Zambia must be fully supported to realise their dreams and those of the nation.’Real Success is not exclusive,’ For Zambia to gain meaningful development we need to afford our youth all the tools and opportunties to succeed. We the ‘grown ups’ including HH owe it to them, figuring ways, including out of the box methodologies to attack career deficit and unemployment to create wealth. Of course we realise corruption and greed are the biggest obtacles. PF stands ready and is priviledged with providing a great opportunity for a paradigm shift in employment creation. Lets collaborate email [email protected]
There is one big problem with Mr Chipimo’s plan which sounds reasonable enough in terms of kick starting viable employment opportunities in a weak economic or structurally deficient climate. The problem is the government will not play ball for either partisan or other self interested reasons. The reason for this is that any forward sighted administration would have implemented such initiatives before or earlier. Runnung a country is different from shouting from the rooftops!
Good idea on paper lakini utekelezaji ndio hamna.Kwanza watu wengi hawana ujuzi,utekelezaji na ujuzi wa mambo ya kandarasi za serikali.Pia kuna corruption sana na ukabila ambazo zitafanya contracts ziwe suspect.Sioni hii mpango ukifaulu kwa vile wazambia wengi hawana bidii ya kazi,wanapenda ufisadi na zambia ni “a nation of under achievers”
well to some extent this plan may better living standards of a few selected ones,but honestly i expected more water from the narep borehole.What method of methods diversifying business from cadres to selected youths will you use.?
Given the lethargy,tribalism,nepotism,corruption,irresponsibility,politicisation of everything and the general failures of the past(zamtel,zed airways) this plan is doomed right from its launchpad.Lets face it,we zambians are a nation of underachievers and hard work is not our forte.
You’re one stupid mofo.
Narep and Pf are fishing from the same pond. Chipimo is much smarter coz he promises to collect a million signature in 120 days not 90. Maybe he meant to say 90 days……….lets wait and see.
rubbish, keep on dreaming
All these ideas chipimo is about are current govt policy , even previous govt. the problem that they face is CORRUPTION. Let’s face it. We have heard those employment songs!!
This sub committee of PF has misdirected itself. How and how does it expect to receive public funds to advance this paupers political ambitions. You Chipimuo, don’t you have something to do in life than embarrass yourself with such shallow thinking. Just Join PF and get a job.
Well done mr chipimo.
A STATUTORY INSTRUMENT NEEDS TO BE DRAFTED TO THE ZPPA ACT REMOVING THE CEEC ACT PROVISIONS ON PERCENTAGES, TO THIS CONCEPT ON EMPOWERING THE YOUTH AND WOMEN.
IT MAKES SENSE. THIS ALSO MEANS PROCUREMENT PLANS WILL HAVE TO BE DECENTRALIZED TO PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT LEVEL FOR THOSE ITEMS WHICH THE YOUTH AND WOMEN CAN EASILY SUPPLY OR GET CONTRACTED FOR, AT THAT LEVEL.
HONESTLY DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO GET A BIG COMPANY FROM LUSAKA TO REPAIR TILES, LOCKS AND CEILINGS IN SHANGOMBO OR ZAMBEZI, CHINSALI OR CHAMA? WHEN WE HAVE UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS AND WOMEN WHO CAN DO IT OUT THERE.
All these funny initiatives, CEEC, CDF, ABCD, XYZ have only been created to usurp the powers of the local authority. Can you imagine New York Mayor ordering and advising how businesses in his jurisdiction to behave during the coming storm? If it were a Zambian city they would be waiting for the Minister of Local government to release funds who in turn would be awaiting a Cabinet resolution to ensure things were done according to statutory instrument 2960… Lets reduce on all those meaningless money-bleeding initiatives and empower local authorities as it was before. We all know wamuyayaya is a myth so get on with it!!
How does NAREP launch a national initiative during the tenure of office of the PF? NAREP can only propose policy to PF.
Mr. Chipimo sir, you have said wise things in the past and I agreed with you but this one wont work, first and foremost the people you want to engage in formal transactions most of them are illiterate don’t even know what a Quotation is, secondly the body you want those companies to register with is a hoax, I will not beat around the bush am talking about WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND this body is just out their to steal money from companies, have you taken time to find out how much people are paid when injured or fired for medical reasons? It’s mockery. If you have a heart for Zambians fight this body WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND so that they can change their policies rather than subjecting the people you are trying to help to it. By the way drop this Idea its a dream!!!
Ni H.H for republican president not this Chipimo who has eye problems…very unfit…same as Sata at statehouse who cannot go ruond the country,,,viva HHHHHHHHHHHHHH
FOR SURE CHIPIMO IS UN FIT…HE IS PF FOLLOWER HE CAN NOT ..AND NEVER BE A NATIONAL LEADER…FRANKLY SPEAKING H.H IS THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE TOP JOB AT STATE HOUSE
Yabaaaaa…. Teeetiiii naiwe boyi.
Chipimo is a compromised UN-principled blabber who can flatter only the shallow minded. He flourished on flattery and supposed good english, copy-cut ideas lacks depth in character to carry out what he promises, indeed not to mention how cheap he is, can be easily brought by a trip to brazil. give me a break!
So who will get the credit if it works? A political party asking another party to support its plans kaya.
sence
All I suggest is.. these people who seem to have the greatest ideas for Zambia. Take the step he took to try and help the country. Let us see your success!
Chipimo has written his strategy. All you who are commenting, you comments will come to fizzle out and be forgotten in no time and yet Chipimo’s Employment and Empowerment Strategy paper will come to stay even for over 20 years.
Please, I advise you to draft your alternate strategy if you dire to critique Chipimo. I am not a member of NAREP but I laud efforts aimed at improving the lot of our Zambian people. But unreasonable pessimists, Oh how I avoid them at all costs, lest I get contaminated by their cancers psychic.
Thanks Elias, just keep refining and fine-tuning your strategy.
CHIPIMO HAVE FINISHED CHEWING THE MONEY FROM THE BRAZIL TRIP? WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU ARE A PF SUB-COMMITTEE. HH IS DOING A GOOD JOB BECAUSE HE IS REALLY PROVIDING CHECKS AND BALANCES AND GIVING THE PF KAPONYAS AND THEIR FAMILY FOREST A TOUGH TIME.
IT IS VAVA HH BECAUSE CHIPIMO WILL NOT BE DIFFERENT FROM SATANA
my uncle is doing a gud job!;)
Is NAREP leader Elias Chipimo a young leader, look at his head it’s already grey.
The guy is even aspiring to be President, and yet he displays such level of ignorance on Job Creation.
Good move on the political chess board. Chipimo realises the importance of the unemployed youth and vendors. Identifying with them will certainly score him some valuable point. His approach also shows a different approach to oppostion politics which will still endear him to intellectuals. The plan may have its defects but it is certainly a starting point. I dont agree with leapfrogging vendors to govt suppliers but I agree with the principle of preserving a chunk of supply contracts to Zambians. These though must be thoroughly competent not picked straight from the streets. They must graduate from vendors into proper suppliers on their own mettle as a price for the preferential treatment.
While that may sound good to the uninformed! This plan lacks substance. I like the young man Chipimo but he needs to talk to us for him to be able to come up with a workable idea.. putting aside 10% for non qualified or unskilled business people is a no go area. I dont support MMD nor PF but what i can say is that this idea is just another pipedream which is not even close to the diesel from grass Kaunda once propagated. Chipimo needs serious researches and analysts on his team.
Theoretician. You have figured out the chess move here,hopefully Chipimo can also see. He will have 1million potential disatisfied voters on his list and to culture them into a movement will be interesting to see. Have you noticed how most people have bought the dummy? My friend yours is a gift of a Strategist rather than tacticians. NAREP has realy thought this one out inside out.
Bravo 66
– HH going nowhere – not even Lusaka want him – he lives in Lusaka and no MP – bamuhiba ku Southern Province period!!