unemployment in zambia

7/27/2019 Unemployment in Zambia

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

PAGLORY COLLEGE OF

EDUCATION

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

NAME: NSOFWA GETRUDE

COURSE: ECONOMICS

PROGRAMME: SECONDARY TEACHERS DIPLOMA

COMBINATION: CIVIC EDUCATION/ RE

TERM: TWO

NAME OF THE LECTURER: MR.CHIMOTO B.C

ASSIGNMENT NO: TWO

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION: There is a loud cry of unemployment in Zambia, Discuss the means and

ways of creating employment in Zambia, to curb youths problem economically.

DUE DATE: 10

th

July, 2012

LECTURERS COMMENTS:

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Of the total population of Zambia, 70% constitute of the youths, defining Zambias population as

young. There are a number of issues affecting the youths were HIV is one of the big issues

affecting the young people in Zambia is unemployment. In this paper, I discuss means and ways

of creating employment in curbing youths problem economically.

According to one of the biggest problems facing the young people of Zambia today is youth

unemployment. There are a number and masses of young people that have good qualification but

do not have a job. There are just no jobs for them. It always pains them if they are heading a

family or taking care of their fellow brothers and sisters. A lot of young people have blamed the

government for the poor educational and employment policies despite having the ministries of

education and labour. This disparity has increased the number of street vendors (who are mainly

the youths) in the communities and towns. This is for the reason that they want to at list find

something to get home so that they feed the ones they taking care of. It is so unfortunate because

even the university graduates can still hover around the communities.

Youth unemployment is still very high in Zambia. The 2000 census shows that 23 and 21 percent

of the youths aged between 1519 and 20-24, respectively, were unemployed. By residence,

youth unemployment was higher in the urban areas than rural areas, 55 percent compared to 12

percent in the age group 15-19 and 42 percent compared to 9 percent in the age group 20-25.

Youth unemployment was slightly lower among females at 21 percent compared to 25 percent in

the age group 15-19 and 18 percent compared to 23 percent in the age group 20-25 (CSO,2006).

The PF government says it is keen to set up financing for youths entrepreneurship projects in the

2013 National Budget in a bid to create more jobs. And the PF government has told youths to

stop looking for jobs but create employment.

It is in this line that, if Zambia has to create employment we have to concentrate on

strengthening youth empowerment fund to meet the demand of the youths. The Government has

to set up skill training centers in all districts where young people will be equipped with creative

skills such as bricklaying, power electrical, tailoring and sewing, carpentry, agriculture,

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computer skills and entrepreneurship. These skills empower an individual to start his or her own

job and employ other, thereby providing economical development.

According to The Post (2012:2) reports that, Finance Deputy Minister Miles Sampa said, youth

unemployment was a global problem. He noted that all countries were grappling with

unemployment especially among the youths. This on Monday after attending the opening

session of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 2012 Annual Ministerial Review

meeting focusing on promoting productive capacity and decent work to eradicate poverty in the

context of inclusive, sustainable and equitable economic growth at all levels for achieving the

Millennium Development Goals.

According to Sampa (2012:2) notes that, What we observed from the meeting today is that the

solutions are not only in providing jobs to the youths from Government and companies. The

youths should become innovative and come up with bankable ideas that can be financed either

by the Government or the private sector, the Deputy Minister said. He urged the youths to start

thinking of becoming employers and not depending on being employed.

According to UNCTAD (2006) The creative industries are a fast-growing economic sector that

holds great potential for developing countries, which often have rich traditions of art, music,

dance, literature, film, and other forms of creative talent, as well as vast cultural heritage andprofound traditional knowledge. As per UNCTAD, throughout this decade the creative

industries became one of the most dynamic sectors in the world economy and in international

trade.

Creative industries comprise the creation, production, marketing and distribution of products and

services resulting from human creativity. According to UNCTAD (2006:76), the creative

industries deal with the interplay of various knowledge-based economic activities comprising

tangible products and intangible intellectual assets, with economic and culture value, creative

content and market objectives. They include the performing arts, the motion picture and

recording industries, book, journal and newspaper publishing; and the computer software and

games industry, music and theatre production, photography, commercial art, advertising, radio,

television and cable broadcasting industry.

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The prominent role of creativity in shaping the direction and volume of trade flows has important

implications for both development and socio-economic growth, especially in developing

countries. In developed countries, the creative economy is becoming a platform for promoting

innovation, enhancing services and reducing unemployment. The strengths of this creative

economy rely on its capacity to improve competitiveness and to help countries to diversify their

economies. While the range of skills and specific cultural features of a country are preconditions

for successful expansion of the creative economy, creativity is becoming crucial to articulate

development strategies. Creativity is a strategic asset that can offer a comparative advantage in

the globalizing world and help maintain a country's cultural identity.

According to Mfune (2008:8) The creative industries also contribute to sustainable

development. It is becoming increasingly recognized that the concept of "sustainability" has alarger scope beyond its application to the environment. The tangible and intangible cultural

capital of a community, a nation or a region of the world is something that must be preserved for

future generations just as natural resources and ecosystems need to be safeguarded to ensure

continuation of human life on the planet.

To support Mfune, it can be supported that emphasis should be on entrepreneurship rather than

on white collar jobs rather than waiting for the Government to employ them. The role of the

Government is to create an enabling environment for private and public partnership andencourage indigenous Zambians to access land and financing.

Creative industries built on cultural capital and heritage often have deep roots in the natural

environment. The traditional knowledge that makes the creative industries so unique evolved

over centuries through observation and use of the natural environment. From the study and use of

plants came our first systems of medicine and the basis of the natural health and cosmetics

industry.

In conclusion, in curbing youth unemployment in Zambia, Government should create an

enabling environment for youth financing in form of a youth banks that shall provide revolving

loans to unemployed youths. There should be emphasis on entrepreneurship skills rather than

white collar syndrome. Evidence has it that creative arts and promotion of Indigenous

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knowledge of the natural environment has created lucrative markets for visual arts, eco fashion

and ecotourism.

References

CSO (2006) Zambia Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, 2004, Lusaka, Zamstart

Mfune F (2008). Tourism Development in Southern Africa. The Official SADC Trade,

Industry and Investment Review 2007/08, SADC.

The Post (2012) Government Keen to set up financing for youths- Sampa, dated 4th

July 2012,

Lusaka, Zambia

Namwenda Henry (2006) Zambia Youth Perspective, Lusaka, Youth Alive

UNCTAD (2006). Business Linkages Programme Guidelines. United Nations publication.

New York and Geneva.

UNCTAD (2006). Investment Policy Review of Zambia. Strategic Perspectives on FDI and

Diversification. United Nations publication. New York and Geneva

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unemployment in zambia

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