Experts say no need for pessimism about 1 million job creation
Political and economic commentators have said there is no need for “pessimism” in vice president Saulos Chilima’s one million job creation promise, saying it is a possible dream.
University of Livingstonia political analyst George Phiri said this is disappointing to note the stand taken by President Peter Mutharika in doubting the the plan, saying as he should be in the forefront in advocating for such huge job creation.
“It is possible to create one million jobs. The government can create jobs even outside the country where Malawians can go and work. This is possible,” he said.
He said Mutharika needed to understand Chilima’s statement in wider horizon.
“The President should not be short sighted,” he said.
Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn) executive director Dalitso Kubalasa concurred with Phiri, saying one million job creation is possible if the government is determined.
Kubalasa also said the country can have high-speed trains, saying what Mutharika told the people in Nkhotakhota was merely meant to distort facts and mislead people.
Mutharika told people in Nkhotakota that what Chilima, who is the leader of the United Transformation Movement, was merely building castles in the air.
Presidential spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani said what the President said was just an expression of his opinion.
“As a human, he is entitled to his opinion. He was telling people that politicians need to be realistic when promising people,” said Kalilani.
Economic commentators argue that the fact that the Malawi’s economy is not diversified with productivity still low is enough reason for the country to continue failing to produce jobs arguing plans to create more jobs in the economy should accompany economic diversification.
Chancellor College economics professor Ben Kaluwa noted that unless the country boosts productivity by diversifying the economy creating a million jobs is wishful thinking.
“Talk of diversifying the economy first before talking about creating such number of jobs. We are not saying creating a million jobs is not possible in Malawi but taking from the state of affairs, it could take more than what we think to achieve this,” he said.
On quotes reported by the press, economic commentator Gilbert Kachamba said though possible, creating a million jobs would require a lot more than focusing on a single component of the economy.
He said: “Creating a million jobs is no joke. We are talking about real employment not seasonal or casual and to achieve this there are a lot of supply side constraints that need to be addressed to achieve that goal.
“For instance, the energy sector needs serous scrutiny because no serious investor can come to invest in the country in its current status but also the education sector needs some reforms to feed the growing industry with the skilled labour.”
UTM spokesperson Joseph Chidanti Malunga maintained the Movement believes it can use the available resources in the country to create jobs.
“We know that reducing the amount of money that goes into people’s pockets will certainly make a difference in the country. What we are saying is that we are going to build roads, hospitals and other infrastructure and we know this will translate in jobs,” he said.
Malawi has been facing a labour crisis with National Statistical Office (NSO) figures showing that unemployment rate in Malawi is at 23 percent, according to a labour survey conducted in 2015.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Inu a UTP, kapena nditi UTM, momwe amalankhulira chilima, baalotani ine ndiye ndikungomva kukoma ndi boma la DPP, madela akwathu sindimayembekezera kuti kufika magetsi mu ma ulamuliro a MCP komanso UDF. Koma boma la DPP layika magetsi madera a pa MSIKA WANJALA, kwa M’BIZA, ku NAMISASI, kwa MISANJO, kwa MISINJE komanso, ku NANTOMBOZI. Olo mutayesetsa bwanji, madera amenewa ndi miseu yomwe ayijudulira, simungapezeko voti.
Don’t forget APM studied and mastered the art of arguing in courts and on the other hand Saulos mastered Business including business that are dying to make them profitable. Does that surprise you about the pessimism? Lawyers like to argue about sweet nothings and we don’t need that. We need someone to give hope to this dying nation
YES its posssible .Revamping admarc,Malawi housing,Works ,forest and Agriculture.
What kind of 1million jobs is Chilima creating in Malawi.This is a political joke.
chilima will not do this on his own. it needs dedicated people to help[ revamp. eg how can BEN PHILI have some billions kwaca inn one bank and k900,000.000 in another bank. plus flats in area 43. in such a short time? this is wat SKC is saying that money to use in introducing workforce is mommuno, azibweza ndipo azibweze basi . we fucking sick n tired of these pompous people. instesd of governing the country they are governingt their tribes, family ,friends, girl-boy friends.
creating more jobs. is his focus. technical places for aprenticeship.
our young people only know about the apumbwas than the real politics. Muluzi ndi yemwe anayambitsa kusokoneza maphuzilo. the rest is history. mbava 3 much
Let’s face it: the million jobs Chilima says his regime would create, on short order no less, is simply a pipe dream.
The sooner Chilima drops this claim, the better it will be for him and his bus company, UTM. Otherwise he’s heading for a credibility crisis: as even educated Malawians see right through this for what it is – only a political statement based on NO credible basis.
Read the comments in the article, and you’ll find none of the experienced economists will put their personal stamp on such a half baked plan.
Power (Electricity) first. Diversification second. Then Productivity increase through TECHNOLOGY.
This is not hard science abale.
Let’s get on with it; but let’s not lie through our teeth like the UTM Presidential aspirant.
Chilima exudes brilliance. The choking effect on other is evidenced by the hostile reactions. The empty statements in which you hardly see a well thought out argument. All balderdash from lazy minds. Chilima is a blessing to Malawi political terrain no one ever since he came on the scene has gone to sleep. As of now there are three political camps namely UTM MCP and UDF the other groupings are breathlessly in marathon but no strategic agenda for Malawi. All crooks are mouths agape no realistic manifestos
Chilima is playing brilliant politics. All parties and the general public are focusing an debating on what he says. They have stopped talking of other parties and their manifestoes. They are all talking UTM and its economic policies. UTM is fast becoming a household name. What brilliance. I like these boys.
Mr you’re comment is a joke too like this liar Chilima on his impossible statements that his busy cooking in his political pot, for those who stayed outside Malawi will understanding what it takes a country that is having limited resources to create even 500,000 jobs within the space of two years, therefore is sad that people they backing vocals on this felled politician, a thing that is indicating our ignorance as a nation.
What Ben Kalua says is exactly what the APM was meaning. Akuluakulu mukundimvetsa chisoni kwambiri kodi have you forgotten kuti it is the same just recently who said we should not just clap hands for everything our political leaders say? Now Chilima is cheating you and u clap hands u know Malawi likes ppo who talk lies i believe now. Chilima lero lokha lokha kadya pa chiwaya chips all these years have you ever seen him kudya pa chiwaya and Akweni amvekere eee ndi mmene alili Chilima shame kwabasi. Anakhala nawo pa maliro cha ku monkeybay uku do you mean to say all these years he was with DPP had never intercepted maliro why did he not stop? Musamakhale ngati mukuuza ana ayi. I and others who love DPP are more than ready to cast our vote for APM no matter what wosati masanje anuwa ayiiiiii!. What a contradiction in your salutations: “Wolemekezeka SKC yemwe ndinu mtsogoleri wa kagulu kathuka komanso muli VP wa dziko lamalawi” Akadzuka mtsogoleri wa kagulu kanuko amvekere boma ili la katangale, lakuba, losankhana mitundu, etc sheeeeee koma mitu yanu ikugwira anthu inu? In other words from today change your salutation and say this: “SKC wa kagulu kathuka komanso yemwe muli VP wa boma lomwe ndi lakuba, lakatangale, losankhana mitundu” that will be good chifukwa by virtue of being VP for Malawi he is part and parcel of everything he claims is not good. Otherwise he shud quit from VP’s office only then you will have integrity!
Apo bi eeeee ndale za wanadi!!!!!
You’re doing injustice to your body& soul ‘dude’. Do not be so angry, anthu amakomokatu ndi BP, tell your DPP colleagues/ zealots this free advice.
Amwene ine ndzavotera DPP ndipo ndimamva chisoni agalu ena akamati palibe yemwe adzavotere DPP chipani chatha, mukudzichinda ndi chala. Zaka zonsezi kumudzi kwathu kunalibe magetsi, pano afika ndikungomva kukoma, ndiye wina abwere masanasana kuti azandisinthe maganizo? mwalemba mmadzi!
@Chataika:
Comment well focused apa!
Chilima wakomanana nazo zi ma analyst ngati inu.
So some political analyst and Ambuye Che Kubalasa’s “analysis” is that one million Jobs are possible in a Year in a country where current total fill time employment is just about 600,000? So it is feasible to create industry that can tripple labour force in one Year !!! Chilimanomics ? Nonsense
But this commentator from University of Livingstonia is an embassment. You mean exporting labour to other countries is what should constitute job creation? Shame!
Corruption does not take away money for investments. For example corruption in road construction doesn’t take away jobs, it just leads to inferior roads because the money they pay out in bribes means instead of a 10 inch thick road, we get a 5 inch road. In Maizegate like scandals instead of getting 10000 tonnes of maize we get 8000. in hospitals we just get fewer or no drugs than budgeted for. Job creation is a function of many things. In industry u study if u come invest and will u make profits. Investors just don’t come. Magufuli has done so well but in two years how many jobs has TZ created. If we don’t look at bigger picture and just say its possible in 12 months we are wrong. From 1964 to now we only around 1 million people employed. There are also global trends that we depend on.
JB failed to export Malawian labour to other countries. This L/nia guy is suffering from dementia. It is painful to see our children going abroad to the Mideast only to be abused in any form on the basis of our black skin. So Phiri is drooling total trash. Don’t push Chilima to the extreme then later on you’ll disown the very lousy proposals armchair analysts no pragmatic contributions
You have a problem with thinking. If you create a 5 inch thick road instead of 10inches, doesn’t that affect the number of workers you need?
A contrarian would say: A thinner road surface would require more frequent maintenance; and therefore, more employment in the long run. How about that?
For me, that is a red herring: The basic point being Chilima CANNOT create a million jobs, as he claims. And he should know it, if he went back to his various Economics courses at Chirunga.
Kodi amawaphundzista zoona kumenekuja?
People are crazy and do not think well because of hate and bitterness. Things like you are my in-law why did you not fight for me to be at Ndata.Simple why did you not pay attention when to come to the hospital early and in time masiteni. Nobody from the family would keep that kind of a person ndi mipingu imeneyo mwikho.Peter tried to care for you gave you motherhood thing instead with privileges you choose not appear at Kang’ombe you want to insult his wife too chiyani you call Peter wakula muchona. A Chilima do you read and understand what is in their hate speach. You choose to be the backing dog as you said yourself on her behalf for what you are displaying immaturity I pray for you.
I have a solution to this; DPP can’t create 1 million jobs so let’s prove Chilima wrong by voting him into power. When people are saying DPP is clueless that’s what we are talking about.
No way.
Not wise to take that kind of chance, Achimwene, on our future, and future generations.
The stakes are too high at the national scale.
kkkkkkkkkkk i like this machemba guy
Creation of 1 million jobs is as easy as ABC if our leaders have a vision and are competent. At the moment a lot of money is wasted and is going into people’s pockets. Kodi mowa akumwa anthu daily pa Bwandiro ndalama zake zimachoka kuti if not government coffers. That money can create immediate jobs if channelled to projects. At the moment there are so many primary schools in need of classroom blocks so u don’t need to even think of where the projects will be. Why are we busy importing every type of clothing when we can make our own for some types of clothes. If we empower cotton growers we will give them meaningful employment. Then companies doing the ginning will employ more then mapeto will do the final part. Nanga tailoring companies. Once UTM is in power next year they should cut foreign travel in civil service and even local allowances. Big progress will be achieved within few months. Ndalama zilipo zambiri koma zikudyedwa ngati zamasiye. Anthu amakhala ndi fuel card laboma muli mamillion to be misused. SKC drain this swamp please.
DR CHILIMA, THESE ARE FAILURES WHO CRITICIZE FOR THE SAKE OF IT. THE CULTURE SECTOR ALONE CAN CREATE OVER 50, 000 JOBS. THE NIGERIA CULTURE SECTOR IS EMPLYONG MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. DO YOUR SEARCH YOU WILL AGREE THIS STATEMENT.
DR CHILIMA REACH OUT TO THE SECTOR AND THEY CAN ADVISE ON HOW THIS COULD BE DONE.
By dealing with corruption it is possible to create 1 million jobs and this is exactly the dream of Chilima and UTM once operation chotsa mbawa is done. When the swamps are drained, ESCOM will be able to generate enough electricity for the country and attract investment that will translate to job creation. I think Chilima has made it clear in his plan – don’t deliberately twist facts like uncle P.
only a healthy economy can create a million jobs within the first year of election. hindsight is telling me economy is not yet healthy enough to do that. Politicians do not create jobs the industrialists do. Words do nothing unless they are followed with action. Its ok to be sceptical with populist rhetoric especially coming from the mouths of politicians.
chidanti you are saying you will build hospitals roads etc. In one year can identify a location, contractor, draw plans and employ people to do the works. Even to start building a personal house takes time. So in one year is what people are pessimistic about. High speed trains is a dream. Malawi budget is about US1.1 billion. Kenyas high speed train project cost US$3.2billion. So when making promises lets start making promises about the foundations to use such. How can a high speed train function when there are power cuts everyday? We need to mechanize agriculture and afterwards, when we produce enough start reopening the likes of Mulanje canning factory SKC spoke about. Increase taxes on useless imports that are produced locally etc. cant happen in one year, thats all they are saying. And Malawi is already overburdened with loans.