Young Mozambicans disheartened at lack of opportunities

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Young Mozambicans disheartened at lack of opportunities

3:37 CAT | 12 Aug 2020

Photo: DW

On World Youth Day, young people from the Mozambican province of Nampula lament a lack of jobs, housing and access to financial credit. The new coronavirus is also one of the biggest problems today.

Being young remains a challenge in Mozambique, especially in the northern province of Nampula. Manuel Pita, 30, is unemployed and has tried several times to apply for jobs, both in government and private companies, but without success.

Manuel Pita decries the lack of practical government employment policies. “It is a sad situation. In 45 years [of the country’s independence] we should have made progress, but unfortunately that is not what is happening. Many young people are sitting [unemployed] . Even with training, they have no opportunities,” he says.

The lack of access to housing and the financing of youth initiatives are also part of the problem. Manuel Pita says that the few who benefit from these initiatives are young people who have some influence with government elites.

“Opportunities may exist, but the problem is how to access them. We have support problems. I may want to create a business, but if I don’t have support it will be difficult [to progress], so we need a lever”, he underlines.

Despite all the constraints, the young man comforts his peers: “We cannot get weary. We will continue to fight, because I believe that better days will come. However, we cannot sit idly by waiting for the government authorities to do something.”

Enhance focus on training and businesses

Mateus Razão Ali is a hotel and tourism trainer in Nampula. The young man recognises the high unemployment rate in the country and in the province, and , to address this problem, challenges other young people to invest more in technical-professional training and entrepreneurship.

“For the young person to reasonably decry a lack of jobs, he or she must be trained. A young person cannot complain about employment while not being trained. That is the first condition. It is not only formal employment that provides bread, so does the lawful business. If the young person doesn’t fight to earn his or her bread, the lamentation will never stop,” he explains.

The National Youth Council in Nampula recognises the problems, and advises young people to invest in the creation of businesses, taking advantage of the support that government authorities provide.

Pandemic worsens the scenario

Milagres Zacarias, first vice president of the District Youth Council in Nampula district, says that all efforts by the authorities to support youth initiatives, including employment, are ending in failure because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Regarding project financing, we know that since 2019 we have faced difficulty accessing it. Unfortunately, this year we had this adverse Covid-19 situation, with many sources that would have supported youth initiatives unavailable,” he says.

DW Africa tried to obtain clarification from the government of Nampula district on the policy of the Mozambican Executive on youth support, but has so far received no response.

This Wednesday morning (12-08), the city of Nampula’s Heroes’ Square will host Youth Day ceremonies presided over by the Secretary of State of Nampula and the district administrator.

In the capital, Maputo, the Youth Parliament, a movement advocating for the rights and priorities of Mozambican youth, today promotes a debate on the challenges and perspectives of young people in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. Reflections will seek to debate policies and the role of institutions in the face of the new challenges.

Source: Deutsche Wellle