Sunday, 17 March 2013

High unemployment rate in Zimbabwe-what can be done?

Zimbabwe has the highest unemployment rate of about 98%. This, according to other economists is as a result of poor economic strategies. They say economic policies like land reform programme scared away potential investors, hence increasing unemployment rate. However, others blame economic embargo by other Western countries. The European Union unanimously agreed to put Zimbabwe under what they call ‘targeted sanctions’. This happened between the years 1990-2000 when Zimbabwe, under the leadership of ZANU-PF, has carried out the land reform programme or policy which saw white settlers losing plots they have grabbed in Zimbabwe before 1980. They accused Zimbabwe of abusing human rights, hence sanctions. But is it the case? What can we do as a country? Can we just sit and watch our economic situation dilapidating day by day? Certainly not. The Ministry of Youth development, Indigenisation and Empowerment tried to empower Zimbabwean youth by granting loans to certain individuals. But this is not enough. We need more. Zimbabwe can copy what Spain did to alleviate unemployment problems in her country. She pledged €3,5 billion over four years to ease mass unemployment among the country’s youth, as the government tries to stem a relentless tide of layoffs and lengthening jobless queues. She also took measures, such as lower social security payments for young self-employed workers and up-front payment of unemployment benefits for entrepreneurs. Spain’s unemployment rate has risen to 26% — the highest level since the 1970s and one of the highest in the European Union — and more than half of 18-25 year-olds are out of work (Newsday-14 March 2013). So I suggest Zimbabwe should something to solve this problem. What do you think should be done?

3 comments:

  1. In as much as i agree with the causes of economic breakdown and the plans by the government to solve all the problems i think we as zimbos we have a problem. Unlike in Spain here there is a lot of nepotism- in otherwords if u don belong to us u wont get anything even if ua a youth. Considering these factors i doubt that any zim policy under one political party will ever solve our economic problems

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  2. as of now the situation is bad due to many factors which owe to corruption, lack of resources,poor management and so forth. however, there is no problem beyond solution, something should be done for sho

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  3. Unemployment in Zimbabwe will always be the issue till serious business decisions are made which are not aligned to any parties

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