HUNDREDS of job seekers were stranded at the Mwalimu Nyerere Fair Grounds as most major firms set to showcase their products and services in the 40th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair starting on Tuesday had all vacancies already filled.
According to the Acting Director General
of the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), Mr Edwin
Rutageruka, some 650 firms had expressed interest to participate in the
country’s biggest annual trade exposition.
A spot observation by the ‘Daily News’
at the fairgrounds established hundreds of youth, mostly from Dar es
Salaam-based higher learning institutions, hopping from one pavilion to
another in search of temporary jobs.
This year’s exhibition has attracted
about 30 foreign-based firms as job hunters have been flocking both
local and international pavilions to try their luck.
A businessman, Mr Johnson Kamugisha,
told the ‘Daily News’ that more than 30 men and women had visited his
pavilion in search of jobs. “We offered only five posts to help clean
and arrange the equipment ... But it is obvious more youth are
optimistic to get temporary jobs,” he said.
According to him, most job seekers who
had visited him for any available opportunity have no specific job
requirements “and are ready for any available post.”
A survey by this newspaper further
revealed that job seekers were walking in groups ranging between three
and six people while others were in pairs. Focal points are sites where
workers dressed in official suits or putting on smart dress were seen
standing beside the pavilions, said Ms Joyce Wambura a job seeker and
student at the Institute of Finance Management (IFM).
Ms Wambura, who was accompanied by four
other IFM students, said they decided to seek temporary jobs to acquire
work experience since they had closed for holidays. “We’re on leave and
we reside in the city. We considered this will give us an opportunity to
learn and at the same time get money for up-keep,” she said.
However, Ms Wambura told this reporter
that after going around since morning, she and her friends had not been
lucky as most of the pavilions were occupied. Ismail Jumaah, a law
graduate from St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) said he was
attending the trade fair with two things in mind: “to get temporary job
or get new connections.”
Mr Jumaah told this newspaper that soon
after getting poor results at the law school, he decided to start up own
business, hoping to go back to the law school later this year. I want
to be an advocate and if lady lucky would shine on me, get a permanent
state employment.
I can’t just stay at home. I have to
look for something to do and get money,” he said. A supervisor at Nice
Catering Services, Mr John Tarimo, admitted that his firm used to
recruit part-time workers but now the company has got enough staff for
its business.
“Should we be in need of support, we
will recruit. But now we are basing on our present team,” he said. The
trade fair, one of the most prominent in the SADC region, is expected to
be officially opened on July 1.
Rwandese President Paul Kagame will be
the guest of honour.The acting Tantrade MD said this year’s event is
aimed at creating sustainable trade for the exhibitors through
continuous free training and forums that would link small and big
businesses.
All visitors are subject to payment to
access the 10-day exhibition. Tantrade Business Promotion Director Anna
Bulondo detailed that entry fee is 1,000/- and 3,000/- for children and
adults respectively from June 28 to July 6. Entry fee for the climax
day, July 7, will be 4,000/- -- the same as last year.
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