Mozambique: Civil society condemns release of man who confessed to murdering his wife
DW
Poverty, corruption, social inequality – just some of the factors undermining the dreams of the new generations in Mozambique, says young Baltazar Vitor.
Baltazar, from Pemba in northern Mozambique, is one of the 77 percent of the African population under 35 years of age. And with each passing day, he sees his dreams further postponed owing to poverty, political exclusion, corruption or lack of opportunity.
The latest dream of this 27-year-old is a degree in Mechanical Engineering, but this has been difficult to realize. Vitor thought that his father could help him finance his studies, but his father passed away and he had to take over the role of head of the family and take care of three younger brothers, since their mother lives and works more than a hundred kilometres from the city where they live.
The economic situation of Vítor’s family is precarious: “I live in an environment of uncertainty,” the young man tells DW Africa.
Redoubled efforts
Vitor has already been on several training courses – as an industrial welder, sales guide and in accounting – but he has not yet been able to get a permanent job.
At the moment, he helps on the local radio, in the production of content and spoken word. He says he receives monetary compensation which, though little, has helped him cover part of his expenses.
The young man wants to change his situation as soon as possible, and one way would be to start his own business. He even worked out a project and applied for microcredit, but the bank refused funding because of the risk, and Vitor could not provide guarantees.
“It is very difficult to get access to credit here in Mozambique,” he says, saddened at the lack of opportunity to escape poverty.
“Equal treatment”
Vitor is not alone, and says that much of the youth in his region face similar problems. The Mozambican government has promised a variety of support for youth but, as Vitor points out, only “certain social classes” benefit from state aid – not always those who most need it.
Vítor therefore calls for “equal treatment” for all young Mozambicans. “Ending inequality and corruption and listening to the voice of young people” is his proposal.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 770 million people are below the age of 35, accounting for 77 percent of the population, according to the World Bank. These young people are particularly affected by unemployment. Many claim to have lost hope of achieving their dreams. Others continue to fight to make their voices heard, insisting on being part of the political decisions in their countries.
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