Make the best of qatar scheme for youth jobs

 

In Summary

This, he explained, would be in fulfilment of a Memorandum of Understanding that Tanzania (represented by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda) and Qatar have signed.

 It is fashionable, nowadays, to refer to youth unemployment as a ticking time bomb. The analogy is scaring because a bomb is lethal, for it leaves death and destruction in its wake when it detonates.

The big fear is that, unless the metaphorical bomb is de-activated, jobless youngsters can evolve into a militia for engineering chaos and instability through looting, muggings, rape and all manner of lawlessness.

They would do so in revenge against the rest of society, for denying them the chance to lead decent livelihoods as salaried or self-employed citizens. It is understandable, therefore, why the government and non-governmental organisations are constantly exploring initiatives to ease the unemployment crisis.

However, financial and other resources are scarce and are a target of a myriad of important and competing needs. As such, many of our youth become part of a consistently expanding army of the jobless. It is heartening to learn that job creation for Tanzanian youth is one of the components of bilateral relations between our government and Qatar’s.

The Zanzibar First Vice President, Mr Seif Sharif Hamad, who returned from there recently, says the Arab country will provide funds for training Tanzanian youth who would subsequently join the Middle East country’s workforce.

This, he explained, would be in fulfilment of a Memorandum of Understanding that Tanzania (represented by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda) and Qatar have signed.

That is very good news. We are proposing that, the authorities should prepare a manifesto for the would-be beneficiaries, anchored on preserving and enhancing Tanzania’s image abroad.

The good scheme would be shattered if our youngsters misbehaved and engaged in criminal activities in a friendly country. Their careers would be ruined, our benefactors, as well as host countries elsewhere would be upset, and Tanzania’s image would be tarnished.

The social ambassadorial role should cover all Tanzanians living and working in other parts of the world.