Indigenisation and empowerment drive expected to create over 5 million jobs

The country's indigenisation and empowerment drive is expected to create more than five million jobs, reduce the unemployment rate to single-digit levels and improve the lives of rural communities.

Mr David Chapfika, the chairman of the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board, said the ongoing empowerment drive will see the majority of Zimbabweans being economically independent.

"We estimate that the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme will result in the creation of more than 5 million jobs over the next 10-15 years, a development that

should see our unemployment levels plummeting to single-digit levels.

"The job opportunities will not only be confined to urban centres as the construction of schools, roads, clinics and other infrastructure in rural areas will create thousands of jobs in every district.

"An additional 30 000 jobs will be created through the various share ownership schemes that are being implemented for people living close to multinational mining firms," he said.

Mr Chapfika noted that the empowerment programme will also create a sustainable economy that can withstand the effects of the illegal economic sanctions imposed on the country by Britain and its Western allies.

"Indigenisation will enhance employee and management stakeholding in businesses as they will have a say on how the companies operate as well as get a piece of the profits that have hitherto been a preserve of a minority.

"The programme will also accelerate rural development and promote technology transfer as the indigenous people make strategic partnerships with foreign investors.

"For example, companies in the mining sector will have to set up refineries in the country as part of measures aimed at ensuring value addition," he said.

Zimbabwe Youth Council director Mr Livingstone Dzikira lauded the ongoing efforts to empower the masses.

"There is no doubt that the indigenisation and empowerment programme will have a positive impact on the life of Zimbabweans as the creation of opportunities will level an economic playing field that has been tilted against the majority of the populace," said Mr Dzikira.

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