By A Correspondent
In a recent statement, opposition leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa has sharply criticized the current government’s handling of university and college graduates, asserting that their efforts to empower these young professionals have fallen significantly short.
Chamisa’s critique comes on the heels of the University of Zimbabwe’s 43rd graduation ceremony, which saw 6,778 students receive their degrees, including 200 medical doctors, 256 lawyers, and 327 engineers.
Despite the high numbers, Chamisa pointed out the discrepancy in the availability of specific professions. “Sadly, we only had 16 dentists and 83 pharmacists graduating, an area that calls for significant improvement,” he noted.
Chamisa attributes the problem to a lack of market absorption capacity, exacerbated by the economic and political environment. He argued, “We produce graduates but we have no viable market absorption plan to cater for the trained professionals we spew out year in and out.”
This mismatch between educational output and market needs, Chamisa believes, is contributing to a significant brain drain, with many graduates either leaving the country for better opportunities or remaining unemployed at home.
To address these issues, Chamisa outlined his vision for a comprehensive “New Citizens Affairs Plan,” which he proposes to implement from the first day of a new administration. This plan will be grounded in data and statistical models, tracking citizens from birth through their career development.
“Our New Citizens government will introduce and rollout a comprehensive citizens’ affairs plan based on data, evidence, figures and statistical models,” Chamisa said.
He envisions a system that assigns a national identity to every citizen from birth, integrating social security, voter registration, and other vital data.
This would ensure that when students graduate, the job market is prepared to offer them suitable opportunities aligned with national development goals.
“Through this level of monitoring and relationship with other data across the economic and social sectors, there is an opportunity to ensure when each student graduates with a qualification, the job market is ready to receive them,” Chamisa explained.
Chamisa’s plan aims to rectify the current state of unemployment and underemployment among graduates.
“This idea of graduates being jobless or trained professionals joining the jobless.