Zimbabwe Youth Council Urges Government Action on Youth Unemployment Crisis

Livingstone Dzikira, the director of the Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC), has emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to tackle the widespread issue of youth unemployment in the country.

By Tinotenda Samukange

Speaking at a media workshop in Banket, Dzikira highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that over 300,000 pupils were unable to progress from Grade 7 to Form 1, indicating a systemic problem in the education and employment sectors.

Dzikira expressed concern over the normalization of high unemployment rates among the youth, stressing that this should not be accepted as the status quo. He urged the government to prioritize addressing the unemployment crisis and to allocate resources accordingly.

Drawing parallels with the successful efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, Dzikira called for a similar level of commitment and action from the government and other stakeholders to tackle youth unemployment.

He suggested that a dedicated crisis fund could be established to address unemployment with the same vigor and determination that was applied to the fight against HIV/AIDS. While acknowledging that precise unemployment statistics were unavailable, Dzikira estimated the rate to be above 90%, indicating the severity of the situation.

In summary, Dzikira's remarks underscore the pressing need for concerted efforts from the government and other stakeholders to address youth unemployment in Zimbabwe, likening the situation to a crisis that requires immediate and focused attention.