Thursday, March 28, 2024

How to curb Zambia’s high unemployment rate – Hakainde Hichilema

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Zambian youth
Zambian youth

It is no secret we are suffering from high unemployment. The PF first came with a promise of 1 million new jobs and now just this month they have come with the promise of 500,000 new jobs without any evidence they have delivered on the first promise. It is not surprising that such statements from politicians have come to mean very little. Rather than committing to a number let us commit to an approach.

Government must do two things as a priority.

Firstly, we have all heard of cases where despite there being a job vacancy or contracting opportunity those looking for employment or contracts do not have the required skills. We need to match our education and training initiatives to the jobs and opportunities available. Government can only do this by regularly consulting with industry and education professionals to spot the opportunities and then acting decisively. So for example if we see there are more investments made in developing hotels then we should increase training opportunities in hospitality and related services such as catering.

Look at how Rwanda is managing its economy and achieving growth rates of 7% and more

Secondly, Government must support and empower budding entrepreneurs. By developing the relevant skills in our youths we can create a positive knock-on effect. For example, if we provide training opportunities and support to 5 aspiring entrepreneurs then each may go on to start businesses that employ 5 more people and then we have 30 people in jobs as a result of that first bit of support. I would like to see these investments targeted at youths who will help us develop our value-addition industries because this is an area where the knock-on benefit will be considerable both in terms of job creation and supporting the Kwacha.

We do not need to re-invent the wheel here but look at what our brothers and sisters have done elsewhere. For example, look at how Rwanda is managing its economy and achieving growth rates of 7% and more. They do not have our rich mineral resources but they are investing in their people to drive growth. While our resources are limited, these interventions do not need to be expensive if they are well targeted. Consultation is free, prioritisation will help us target available funds at areas with biggest impact, and there is a great deal to be gained from support in terms of knowledge transfer and information sharing, which are low cost interventions. They just require vision and good planning skills.

By Hakainde Hichilema
UPND president

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26 COMMENTS

  1. Also do not forget to indicate that RWANDA has achieved this much because they have a dictator as a president who will be changing the constitution so that he can stay even longer. He has bulldozed his ideas without opposition. But here in zambia we oppose even good ideas thus progress is slow. eg UPND intends to put an injuction on voters registtration. Grand coalition wants to sue govt on constitution. All these manouvers will just delay things. maybe we should not compare with Rwanda

    • Totally agree with you Munjali. Perhaps there is something to be said about dictators that uplift people’s lives.

      I, too, do not see the need for opposition to the Constitution amendment. If the Grand Coalition is so worried about the suncerity of the PF government, why not wait and see what happens in the early stages of the Parliamentary discussions on the amendments and if there is a discrepancy then you have cause to go to court and stop the process. How can you halt the process based on a fear that has not materialised.

    • Perhaps for once we should look at and pick the positives in a suggestion rather the negatives. Such suggestions we should welcome and examine and not shy away from and discredit them simply because they were suggested by, ECL, HH, NSM, GBM or the rest. Progress is to improve the wheel; this is for the betterment of our peoples.

    • The main reason things dont move is people who think like, Harry, Munjali, kapoma kabaso, Mumbi Phiri, Sunday Chanda, Kambwili…. the list goes on.
      Out of all the things HH said, these people see Rwanda, tribe, PF only, even when there own President Lungu has not come up with any solutions or even analyse unemployment like HH has done.
      I am waiting for a reply from Sunday Chanda.

    • HH is giving solutions and the president with his no vision is blaming external forces for his failure. Edgar, please take responsibility. If anyone claims Kagame is a dictator to have achieved so much, why are our dictators failing to improve lives of most Zambians. We do not need utopian ideas of 500 000 jobs…

    • Somewhere on the Copperbelt youths are not accessing the loans from CEEC because they need help building business ideas, connections…..Government can work with Start Up incubators that mould young people into entrepreneurs.
      For PF, they just want the youths to start transport businesses, thats it.

    • “We do not need to re-invent the wheel here but look at what our brothers and sisters have done elsewhere. For example, look at how Rwanda is managing its economy and achieving growth rates of 7% and more” The same mouth you are busy misleading people that the President should confine himself to state house. You expect the people of Rwanda to come and lecture the President at state house. The PRESIDENT is making these tours so that he can bring new ideas into the country. The problem is that you think you are to intelligent my dear HH.

    • Riding on other people’s points, reminds me of your visionless President Lungu.
      What is your own point Kapoma Kabaso?

  2. Akaindes wealth came by fluke . such thinking by leader leader lives much to be desired. How can the entire president who is the CEO of the country fail to get professional advise . besides he is leader of govt and for him to say he ‘ll create half a million jobs knows what he is talking about . who is akainde to come in and say president should consult. I think it’s hh who needs to consult gbm how govt is run.

  3. how do v go forward here is am ex i applied for some land 5 years ago till today i m still wating for tital deeds the chief from the area even came with me to the lands dept and he shouted at the ministery but till to day no reply but the chines get the deeds in one day and the land i wanted was in rular area and was going to employ 500 people and i was going to use all raw meterial so where is zambia going to now i have taken my machinery to the near country all was done in a week and i m about to start my factory

  4. Its unfortunate that party rivalry cannot afford a ‘breeding’ space for such a well analysed ‘alternative leadership’. Its a case of the wise stay with their wisdom and the mighty (politically) remain with their might without crossing the borderline. A case of water and oil which never mix. The public as a result remain as mere spectators and end losers. Pathetic!

  5. To say the least i am disappointed with the shallow level of analysis in this so called proposal. I can’t say much!

  6. @Vampiro;well spoken my bro. HH has never held any civil service position and never occupied any public office.He doesnt know governance and what it takes to be even ward concillor.He just hijacked upnd presidency through tribalism and corruption,and yet upnd cadres re labelling him as competent,smart and experienced.But from where? Upnd this is where u ve failed to canvass votes for him bacause u OVERATE him a lot.I ve not seen anything new that HH has suggested,that path is already is in implementation.

  7. flexible policy mechanisms are desirable for effective knowledge transfer systems.many brilliant young ones are going into nursing,teaching becoz of their higher rates of employability.no problem with this but what is seriously wrong is to restrict them to these fields against their will to explore new sources of knowledge and skills as this only go to stiffle the entrepreneural spirit.The biggest enemy though remain high interest rates

  8. HH, we have empowerment funds but the PF kaponya supporters on this blog will no point this out because they know those funds are earmarked for ministers and the well of PF caders

  9. whatever has been said is in process, you are simply giving a leakage to people already in the system. mazoka did the same, mwanawasa photocopied and become the best, wait and see.

  10. Comment:
    This is the fellow proposing to have Anglo-American take over the mines. Is he really normal, this cattleman?

  11. I have never ignored reading your articles mr hh. However, there is one big problem with you. You jump from one issue to the other without thinking of what you earlier said or wrote about (self conflicting). Chachine…ulichilema mentally as well as visionary. I have never come across an infant of your type politically. Just to remind you: can you compare this trash you have just vomited to your party manifesto about the same topic “Job creation?” That why you lose elections…you say things that you never even promised the voter. You say things just because of a situation…but never planned. Ba ichilema twaleni ubulema ku South uko bamichonga….but continue campaigning in the North as we need your money. Give us the money for campaign, we shall eat it of course but “don’t kubeba”…

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