PF has created over 435,000 new jobs – Kambwili

The Patriotic Front government has created over 435,000 new jobs for local people since ascending to power, and it is committed to fulfilling its ambitious target of creating more jobs, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili has said.
Mr Kambwili, speaking during a meeting with government heads of department in Chinsali on Friday, said it is now incumbent upon other stakeholders in the private sector to be proactive in implementing the youth policy to ensure sustainable results for all Zambians.
“Government has put in place measures to create more jobs to alleviate unemployment and poverty. We have come up with strategies of how we are going to achieve this plan,” he said.
Mr Kambwili said it is important for all stakeholders to help in creating more jobs for the youth because unemployment is a national matter that affects everyone.

“The implementation of the youth strategy would culminate into an increase of options and opportunities for youth empowerment and employment, while creating an enabling platform for youth innovation and entrepreneurship,” he explained.
Mr Kambwili said this is aimed at achieving a direct positive impact on poverty reduction and ensure sustainable development and social inclusion.

He said the revised youth policy emphasises the need for responsive youth programming to address various emerging issues in youth development.
“The policy also puts emphasis on effective exit strategies that prepares youths to be self-reliant. Government is determined to see that livelihoods in Zambia are improved through the creation of jobs and other means of empowerment,” Mr Kambwili said.
He said Government, through the industrialisation and job creation strategy, aims to create more jobs in the agriculture, construction, manufacturing and tourism sectors.

Government is targeting these sectors as a way of actualising its diversification policy and slowly move away from over-dependence on the mining sector for employment creation and overall national economic development.
“The country’s population comprises mainly youths and Government recognises the unemployment affecting them. Every year, approximately 300,000 youths look for employment,” Mr Kambwili said.
He said Government plans to impart skills to youths so that they can positively contribute to national development through industrialisation.

PF