‘Private sector should support young graduates, widen employment’

ACCOMPLISHED engineer and former president of the Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers, Engineer Tamsanqa Mpala, has reiterated the need for the private sector to invest more in supporting young graduates and capacitating them to create more opportunities to transform the country’s economy.

The need to scale up support for young graduates and unlock their potential came to the fore during the recent National University of Science and Technology (Nust) graduation ceremony in Bulawayo, where President Mnangagwa capped nearly 3 000 students and honoured the most outstanding graduates through different prizes.

In his report, Nust Vice Chancellor, Professor Mqhele Dlodlo, highlighted the need to support and promote youth education as a critical step towards shaping a brighter future for the country.

He spoke of the increasing number of programmes within the university meant to encourage the uptake of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), in particular.

Reflecting on this Eng Mpala, who sponsored the inaugural “Tamsanqa Mpala” prize for the best final year engineering project, which was won by Rachel Deline Muyambo, said there is no doubt that STEM plays a significant role in shaping the country’s future.

“I am delighted to have this annual award for the best engineering student as it encourages and motivates them, and even better still, that a young lady has won the inaugural prize. I wish Rachel very well in her career,” said Eng Mpala.

Son to the late veteran former civil servant and honorary engineer, Eng Andrew Siwela Mpala, Tamsanqa did his primary and secondary schooling in Bulawayo and is now giving back to society by supporting the youth.

He is also the founder of the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers Graduate Career Indaba, an annual event that brings together young graduate engineers, academia, and industry to bridge the information and skills gap.

“The graduate engineer’s career indaba is an event that brings together recent graduates, academia professionals, Government and industry leaders and practitioners together so that issues are discussed in one platform under the theme: engage, learn, network, excel and energise,” he said.

“The objective is to disseminate information, promote awareness, and connect young engineers to industrial attachment and employment,” said Eng Mpala.

Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers

It is widely reported that Africa is undergoing a demographic revolution where young people make up the majority of its population, and according to the recent Zimbabwean census, a total of 67 percent of the population in Zimbabwe are young persons.

“Therefore, there is no better time than this to invest, support, and promote the youth and harness this youthful energy to propel the country to economic sustenance,” said Eng Mpala.

“The call is for the private sector to support the Government in harnessing the youth and allowing innovation and technology to shape our world now and well into the future.

“A combination of progressive efforts, new policies, and collaboration with academia, industry and Government is essential to effectively bridge this gap and allow the youth to be actively involved, trained and take charge of important positions.”

While the Government has the responsibility to create an enabling environment, Eng Mpala said the onus is on private players to promote and support youth empowerment for a better future where the country’s citizens make their own decisions and proffer their solutions.

“Such initiatives will only help propel the Government’s National Development Strategy of increasing youth participation in decision-making and development processes from 3,3 percent in 2020 to 25 percent by 2025 as enshrined in the NDS1,” he added.

Describing STEM as the fulcrum of economic stability and development, Eng Mpala said the private sector has a crucial role to play in supporting, training, and mentoring young graduates so that they are integrated into industry and learn and develop their skills.

Eng Mpala is also a board member of the Zimbabwe Association of Consulting Engineers and runs a successful engineering consultancy company — Hydro Utilities.

chronicle