Youth unemployment a political challenge

I N2020, Africa’s population of under 35, considered as the youth, represented almost a billion people (540.8 million 0-14 year olds and 454.5 million 15-34-year-olds), amounting to 22.7 per cent of the world’s total youth population, the second largest after Asia (58.0 per cent). Africa has a young population with over 60 per cent of people under the age of 25.

Most African governments (including Eswatini) are spending a lion’s share of their annual budget on education. One would thus imagine that Africa has the youth unemployment challenge under control, however, the statistics show the opposite. The youth unemployment rate in South Africa (SA), Africa’s most industrialised country, saw no significant changes in 2022 in comparison to 2021 and remained at around 49.83 per cent. This means half of every SA youth eligible and ready for work is unemployed.

The youth unemployment rate in Eswatini remains higher, estimated at 58.2 per cent among the youth aged 15- 25 years, with a disproportionate impact on adolescents and youth residing in rural areas (65.9 per cent). This is according to the UNICEF Country Office Annual Report 2023, which never makes for good reading. This is very dangerous politically for any country and even more so for a small kingdom with a wealthy monarchy. The 2021 unrest gave us a window into a terrible future if the situation is left unattended.

Sporting, artistic benefits

In the First World, employment benefits come in many forms, particularly in sports and arts. The talent in sports and arts can and does create employment for the youth. Government must not only sponsor talented students to do better and develop careers, but also look for talent and nurture it. In the developed world, this is done through sport academies throughout the regions which compete to get the best of the best.

Sporting bodies are challenged to produce talent not for officials to travel the world accompanying one sportsman. The business community is encouraged to sponsor talent because of real financial returns in terms of international exposure or through direct business deals where talented athletes are sold for millions within the international sporting world.

We can sponsor talented runners to study at sporting academies around the world, such as in Jamaica. Schools can provide this talent. I have said this so many times but nothing has changed. Mike Tyson was sponsored and nurtured by someone to become the greatest boxer. We just need our government to build a world-class boxing club and sponsor a few box matches internationally.

Talented artists, in acting, singing and painting, have been ignored and, in many cases, even discouraged by parents and government officials, with depressing comments. The world has seen great talent coming from small and strange places. We need the ministry responsible to make a conscious decision to find and sponsor 10 talented young artists internationally.

Create employers not employment

Government, through its ministries and agents, should create employers not employment. What I mean by this is, government must enable young people to become employers of other emaSwati. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy must ask itself the question of how the new mines can create employers. The diamond mine will be open, yes it will create some jobs but how can the ministry and train young emaSwati in diamond cutting and polishing so that they would employ and train others. GIA, in the US, can train a young liSwati for a career in gems and jewelry. Studying at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world’s foremost authority in gemology, can earn one a diploma that would open doors throughout the industry.

Empowered by govt ministries

The tendency has been for government ministries to believe they can absorb young people, yet government should empower them to become employers. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development must endeavour to build city and town halls that will act as theatres for plays, fashion shows, art galleries and general meeting areas for urban communities. It’s a shame that there are no city or town halls in any of our cities and towns. The Ministry of Agriculture should be a leader in creating youth employers. Marketing companies would start and employ; some would specialize in a few crops and employ individuals.

NAMBoard should have branches and given to the youth across the country. Imagine refrigerated containers placed across the country managed and run by young people, collecting fresh produce in readiness for the market. This would encourage cultivation because the market would be within their community and managed by their own.

The Ministry of Commerce should buy miniature industry equipment from Taiwan, India or China and actually place them at various youth centres to create employers. Help the youth to register companies for manufacturing and marketing the products. The Ministry of Education, working with that of Commerce, should take ECOT to a new higher industrialisation level. They should deliberately choose certain consumer products to be manufactured in Eswatini and promote them vigorously.

Information is key

The Ministry of Information Communication and Technology is key for the success of this country. It is the lifeblood of the nation. Many initiatives have been introduced by government, but the citizens know nothing about them. They use some old means of communication which have long proven that they don’t work but do the same thing again and again. There are no innovative thinkers because, like all the ministries, most are working only for a pay cheque. Not many really want to make a difference in this country.

Unfortunately, future generations of emaSwati will become slaves of the region.

They will do all the hard labour and the educated will leave, but still serve masters in foreign lands because they will not have the education that makes them an employer. We are known for nothing, except for our traditions (which produces nothing but pleases tourists) and sugar which we add no value and sell raw. No young person thinks of buying a machine to make even simple sweets, lolly pops or ice lollies. They will tell you they have no information, which information should be in town and city halls but we have none. Even at tinkhundla centres there is no such information. It is a shame. Comment septembereswatini@gmail.com