The Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has observed that debt servicing is reducing Government investment in young people.
CTPD Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo says his organization remains deeply concerned that social sector spending has been reducing as demonstrated by the relative low funding to tertiary education compared to primary and secondary education.
Mr. Mwaipopo says Government should take note of research evidence which shows that tertiary education has a significantly higher impact on the growth in GDP in Africa than other levels of education.
“It makes sad reading that government is failing to pay lecturers on time. As we speak, there are lecturers who have stopped teaching as they are demanding to be paid their salaries,” he said.
“In light of challenges raised above, CTPD would like to urge government to join hands with young people in finding lasting solutions to the challenges they are facing.”
He said there is great need to move away from the old tradition of always addressing young people; but that Zambia needs to find time to listen to them.
Mr. Mwaipopo said youths have ideas and solutions to most of the challenges they are facing.
He added that the increasing dropout rates, limited opportunities for University and College education, low funding to Institutions of higher learning, failure to harness the Entrepreneurial skills of Youths and many others, will conjointly create a population of disadvantaged youths.
“There is urgent need to address the rising public debt as this is a serious threat to the growth of this country. Zambia needs to invest in human capital development through ICT and innovative practices in the Agriculture and Manufacturing sectors in order to generate more employment opportunities,” he said.
“The current construction boom needs to be supported through reducing interest rates in order to support construction sector employment creation. CTPD further calls on government to consider hosting a Jobs summit aimed at finding lasting solutions to employment challenges young people are facing, this must be a private sector led process aimed at bringing together industry players and policy makers.”

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