Bleak future for the unemployed

Although most countries in Africa are striving to create jobs for their citizens very few have comprehensive employment policies. As a result the bulk of population -60 percent- are still employed in agriculture.

Their employment is therefore seasonal as it depends on the weather patterns. In fact in the true sense they’re not employed as they actually only farm to feed themselves.

One disturbing aspect is that the majority of the unemployed are youths of between 15 and 24. They account for two thirds to three quarters of all unemployed.

Another disturbing feature is that most of the unemployed youths are educated. In the 70s it was primary school leavers who were victims of unemployment. In the 80s secondary school leavers joined the ranks of the unemployed. Right now unemployment is going up the ladder to include higher education graduates.

In Zimbabwe 34 percent of the unemployed youths have O-levels, while 22 percent have primary education. Despite this high unemployment rate the country continues to churn out more than 200 000 school-leavers yet only 30 000 jobs are created in industry and commerce each year.

Because of the sophistication of the unemployed school leavers, some people believe, this is creating more sophisticated criminals who commit crimes on a grand scale and not just petty criminals like pick pockets.

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