The Southern Africa Centre for Constructive Resolutions and Dispute (SACCORD) says the secret to addressing the high unemployment and poverty levels in the country lies in enacting a new constitution.
SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Chembe said the lack of jobs and poverty are some of the contributors to conflicts in most countries.Mr. Chembe noted that it is also easy to maintain peace and order if people have jobs and are able to afford the basic commodities of life.
Mr Chembe said that the exploitation of natural resources in many countries has lead to many conflicts because people feel they do not benefited from such resources.He said that as long as there is poor governance when it comes to mineral resources; it is easy for conflicts to spring up.
Mr Cheembe also noted the need for the country to go beyond the mining of minerals by adding value to the minerals in order to create employment for the people of Zambia.
Mr. Chembe, kindly advise how the new constitution links to poverty alleviation and employment creation. These are assumptions that are being made. And the new draft constitution does not spell out anywhere the aspect of value addition. That is independent of the constitution and only calls for PPP. We are in a market economy and hence we need the private sector to partner with government on industrialization and diversification