Zanzibar Pushes to Curb Unemployment

PRESIDENT Ali Mohamed Shein
By Issa Yussuf

Zanzibar — PRESIDENT Ali Mohamed Shein has said that in a bid to reduce unemployment, his government has been taking different initiatives to prepare the youths for jobs in Zanzibar.

Speaking at the opening of the "Youth Development Carrier Fair in Zanzibar" over the weekend, Dr Shein said that he is disturbed by unemployed rate (17 per cent) of youth aged between 15 and 34 years, who are able to work but lack jobs.

He said that creating employment for youth is one of the government's priorities in speeding up social and economic development of the islands.

The president further said that his government plans to also improve education by making sure that graduates qualify for employment and can self employ.

"Launch of the youth empowerment revolving fund, last December, was also another government initiative. Income generating groups have already started to benefit from the fund. Let us work together in making sure our development plans are realistic," said Dr Shein.

He added that the government has been preparing youth for the much-awaited Oil & Gas project in the Islands, so that they can take-up jobs to be created by the development of the new industry.

Dr Shein said that initial agreement with SHELL Company is to support short and long-term training on Oil & Gas and already 19 Zanzibar youths are undergoing training on petroleum and natural gas development.

Dr Shein joined the Minister for Labour and Public Service, Mr Haroun Ali Suleiman, in advising youth to be patriotic and committed to serve their country, at this time when demand for skilled labour is growing.

"Avoid hooliganism, bad company and instead fight hard for the development of the islands," the leaders said at the event attended by different officers from NGOS, the government and SHELL.

Mr Axel Knospe, SHELL Country Chairman & Government Relations Officer and Mr Jean Van Wetter, VSO Country Director thanked Zanzibar government for its efforts in finding solution to unemployment.

According to UNFPA report handed over to Dr Shein at the function, the recent statistics of youth globally is more than 1.3 billion people aged between 15 and 35 years, while the Tanzania National census (2012) indicated that 77 percent of the Zanzibar's 1.3 million people are aged below 40 years.

The fair attracted youth from higher learning institutions and entrepreneurs, who were furnished with knowledge and guidelines on how to successfully start and run businesses.

Source:allAfrica