Editorial Cartoon
The interview, as it was reported, sought to recruit only seventy applicants for the posts of Assistant Inspector of Immigration. Given the huge turn up the department was forced to take applicants to the National Stadium where it was possible to accommodate all of them.
The incident in question shocked those who read the news as it indeed portrayed a clear picture of unemployment rates in the country.
We should all agree that unemployment among youth especially graduates is not only a problem in Tanzania alone as many countries, including those in the ‘first world’ are now grappling with it as well.
In March the Nigerian Immigration department invited applicants for the interview to fill 3,000 vacancies at the department but what happened was also shocking as over 80,000 job seekers turned up.
For some years now unemployment in the country has attracted attention of key politicians and former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa has spoken about it in a high tone to the extent that other politicians have at times showed to be annoyed about it.
Lowassa has been telling leaders that unemployment is a time bomb that needs to be acted upon. In short the problem needs urgent measures before the situation gets out of hand. When the majority of youths are jobless they can be easily dragged into crime. Joblessness can also cause instability in a state.
Statistics show that every year there are 40,000 university graduates who enter the job market but the truth is that very few of them are absorbed.
Economists have in recent years given advice on how to reduce the problem, focusing on sectors that employ a big number of people. These include agriculture, fisheries and small scale business but data available show telecommunications and mining are among the sectors recording substantial growth so far.
Despite such advice often, little is seen being done on the ground, creating fears that in the near future the problem might get out of control. We fully understand that there are programmes being undertaken by the government aimed at fighting unemployment but they have not brought tangible results.
Just two days ago, the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Freeman Mbowe warned the government against underestimating the problem - and of course turning a deaf ear to ex-premier Lowassa’s warning.
Mbowe warned about the looming danger in Parliament on Thursday, where Deputy Speaker Job Ndugai supported him, going further stating that unemployment is highly likely to be a key agenda in next year’s general election.
Much as we may argue back and forth about this subject there is one thing we should agree- unemployment is a ticking bomb that needs action, not words any more.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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