Firm to link 20 000 graduates to the job market

Despite the labour market not having enough jobs, a newly-formed firm says Malawi has vast employment opportunities, but what lacks is a proper bridge between employers and employees.

Dineo Mkwezalamba, programme ambassador of Dzuka Africa Organisation which was launched in Blantyre on Friday, noted that because companies are not sure whether investing in new employees will bring back return on investment, they prefer not to employ, fearing that their investments will vanish once new employees are taken on board.

As a result of this, she said many companies are failing to absorb the labour force, preferring to work with the available workforce, a thing that has also led to some companies losing their market share.

Said Mkwezalamba: “Our vision is to build highly professional, quality, results-oriented mentored graduates for entrepreneurship and organisations to absorb by partnering corporates to increase employment absorption in entry level jobs for graduates.”

She said Dzuka Africa is a bridge between an entrepreneur or firm looking for solutions to reduce labour cost, minimise recruitment stress, increase productivity and retain staff for longer period.

Mkwazalamba said the birth of Dzuka Africa was initiated by the growing challenge in youth unemployment and the challenge for the employment needs to be met by the market because of lack of experience.

She said by 2020, they would link 20 000 graduates to the job market through the programme.

The 2013 Malawi Labour Force Survey (MLFS) indicated that unemployment rate among all economically active population in Malawi, based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) broad definition, is at 21 percent.

The report says unemployment rate is higher among females, at 26 percent, than among males at 14 percent.

In his presentation at the launch, Access Telecommunications Limited (ACL) business solutions manager Thomas Nkata said in view of the turbulent economic environment, employers would find it hard to recruit fresh graduates as they lack experience; hence, the need to adopt the internship programme.

He said it is easier and quicker to absorb people into work through internship.