Community-based tourism entreprises have potential to act as a catalyst in the creation of one million jobs the Tonse Alliance administration promised, Sungani Zakwathu Cultural Association executive director Mathews Mfune has said.
Mfune has since asked government and other stakeholders to consider the the tourism sector as one crucial cog in creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people.
He said Malawi can achieve a lot if the government, private sector and the development partners invest adequately in the sector.
“Cultural tourism keeps being ignored yet it has the potential to create opportunities for a lot of the country’s youths most of which are struggling to find employment,” he said.
Mfune, therefore, asked the Ministry of Labour to consider developing a curriculum for the cultural heritage sector and training tutors who can teach courses on cultural heritage in some of the community technical colleges.
“In these technical colleges we have rural-bases skillful, intelleligent and capable youths and women who can access the technical and vocational education which will later enable them get employment and enterpreneurial opportunities within their localities,” he said.
Mfune added that as a cultural association they believe this initiative would complement government’s move to set up regional job centres which might mostly be accessible to urban youths and women and possibly for limited white collar jobs.
He said: “As Sungani Zakwathu Cultural Heritage Association, we believe that at every point in time the one million jobs can easily be created and achieved if relevant stakeholders focus and invest beyond urban citizens and opportunities.”
The Tonse Alliance government is championing an initiative to create one million jobs for the largely unemployed youths.
In an interview shortly after his appointment as Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Michael Usi said he would work with various stakeholders in ensuring that they create job opportunities in the tourism and culture sectors.
