On unemployment... PF candidate Edgar Lungu at a rally in Kitwe (extract): “Unemployment is the biggest crisis we have as a country. We have to build on programmes that we started, especially our initiatives to create new industries in rural areas. We must prioritise new manufacturing industries in each of the ten provinces from textiles, food processing, straw processing, toy manufacturing and mineral processing. We have to promote a thriving and successful private sector (...) ensuring that our local contractors grow significantly by giving them big jobs. The mines should begin to give local contractors and suppliers bigger opportunities. Foreign contractors should be made to partner with Zambians. We should have our own mining magnates. We must ensure that mining houses negotiate with government before retrenchment of workers. Despite the presence of local skills, we have expatriate workers. We must give priority to our local people with requisite skills. Mines should provide quality jobs and avoid short and poor contractual jobs. We have to empower our young people with skills and opportunities so that they can help themselves and also employ others.” UPND candidate Hakainde Hichilema in a statement (extract): “Job creation is one of my top priorities. There are two main reasons why people don’t have jobs, one is that there aren’t enough jobs, and the other is that we are not providing our children and youths with the right education. We must address both. My approach will be centred on 1) good economic management, 2) youth empowerment and 3) education and training reform. Firstly, good economic management is fundamental to job creation. This means no more reckless borrowing and no more waste. It also means introducing policies that incentivise the growth of local businesses and encourage investment. This will lead to more jobs being created, and to increased government revenues that we can invest in education and training. Secondly, we need to empower those with business ideas to go out there and make them happen. This means increasing access to relevant training and affordable credit. Thirdly, we need to revisit the school curriculum and review training opportunities so youths have the right skills. Finally, all Zambians, regardless of their gender or tribe, must have the same opportunities available to them in terms of education and training. Job vacancies must be filled according to merit.” Full text on lusakatimes/2014/12/07/edgar-lungu-hh-said-youth-unemployment/
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 11:28:01 +0000
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