Street vending: The only option for Zimbabwe’s graduates Tarisai Mukahanana (26) says if she could, she would tell all those who are graduating these days that they have set themselves on a rough and tough road — tougher than any university assignment. Perhaps like Mukahanana who graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Nursing Science in 2010 from a local university and many other graduates that are being churned out each year, today’s university graduates already know that they are graduating into obvious unemployment. Mukahanana now survives on cross-border trade and says with more graduates being produced every year, it means more professionals entering the job market with nowhere to go because there just aren’t any jobs anywhere. “Every time there is a graduation at any of Zimbabwe’s universities and colleges, the national unemployment rate goes up. This is the truth. All recent graduates will awaken to the harsh reality of our jobless country,” she said. Zimbabwe’s unending unemployment, put at well above 80%, has too often seen many a young life wasted in crime and drug abuse. Mavambo/Khusile/Dawn president Simba Makoni has said the Zanu PF government should end unemployment that has bedevilled the nation for decades. “It is sad that the country has several universities and the graduates are now selling airtime and tomatoes on the streets. There are no jobs to talk about and we must ask questions why. It is because of Mugabe and Zanu PF,” he said. While many youths pin their hopes on the indigenisation programme, it continues to face criticism for being unsustainable and open to abuse. It is also believed the programme is being applied to benefit a few with political connections. Exactly a year after the 2013 harmonised elections which were won by Zanu PF led by President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabweans are now worse off than they were before the polls Analysts say the much-touted economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset), has dismally failed to deliver. Stitched up by the Zanu PF-led government after last year’s plebiscite that extended Mugabe’s rule, Zim Asset was expected to deliver more than 2,2 million new jobs which the liberation movement promised during the election campaign, as well as to bring about phenomenal economic recovery. What has been witnessed thus far however is Zimbabwe sinking deeper into economic doldrums since the dissolution of the inclusive government. An estimated 40 000 graduates from universities and other tertiary institutions are resorting to vending to make ends meet while access to crucial services such as health care has become a nightmare-source- The Standard. Considering the high levels of unemployment in Zimbabwe, what do you think about the future of Zimbabwe’s youth is it hopelessly bleak?
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 10:06:00 +0000
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