This Sunday I met quite a number of young people who are concerned about their unemployment. They have several concerns. They want me as a leader of AKNMf to lead them out of the difficulties they encounter on their lives.
They are not employed.
They have no skills.
They are hopeless.
Some are now more than 35 years old and unemployable in terms governments regulations where they usually say people to apply for job opportunities must be 18 to 35 years. So the question is the governments plans for people between 36 and 59 because they are unemployable and do not qualify for pension.
They wanted me to help them invite the Municipal Major and some higher government officials to come and explain what is in store for youth and adult youth.
The meeting was a huge success. My committee members decided that we should invite representatives from the whole area. It was later realised that should we allow all youth to come, our space will be too small so we then agreed on representatives who cover the whole area.
They all came as invited and we selected their committee. The new committee will soon sit for the first time as committee to organise their work plan but agreed that their Chair person will sit in the AKNMF meetings. They expressed their gratitude over a rare opportunity to have a forum where they can express themselves and make their voices to be heard. More progress will be reported. 18 community areas were represented.
All representatives.
These are the seven members of the youth committee
Three are part of farming group selected by their area of representivity, the rest are new.
Farming will a main part for it is a quick way of addressing hunger. We have identified land next to my home just below my home. I use to cultivate this land and no one told me to stop . I applied for a borehole to be dug two years ago and it was successfully dug. It was only two months ago that the leader of water department in my area came to me and introduced the bore hole and further asked me why am I no longer using the 30 hacters of land where the bore hole is. I told him that it was due to the absence of water but since water is available though not sure how much water is there, I will consider reusing the land. I consider it to be a very good opportunity to organised more unemployed willing youth to grow food to support their families. The old man’s land we are currently using is 15 km away from the Township but this one is a walking distance for every one willing to participate.
In our next meeting we are going to list different skills young people wish to participate in. We will also collect data of their level of education. Our sewing machines and the factory sewing machines are still there but with only two women left who are sewing. The lack of skill and financial support has led to the poor functioning of the sewing group. To have it back on track we need training for young people by a proffessional. They said certificate is not a priority because they don’t want to get employed but to get sewing knowledge and continue with the sewing project on hand.
/Zibuse