No one will create us jobs apart from ourselves, CBU graduate alerts other graduates

By Staff Reporter, NDOLA 

A former Copperbelt University (CBU) student, Oliver Mwanza says graduates should strive to become their own bosses. 

He says graduates ought to change their attitudes for the betterment of mother Zambia adding that no one will create jobs for graduates apart from themselves. 

Mr Mwanza who recently graduated with a degree in natural resources and specialized in Fisheries and Aquaculture further says if one is lucky to get job, they should always bear on mind that someone has hired them to build their dreams. 

He explains that when he graduated from CBU his expectations were that after graduating he would get a job with a pay worth K15,000. 

Mr Mwanza adds that he also thought he would be one of the most learned citizens because of the skills he acquired from CBU. 

“To my surprise, the opposite was actually the truth. I did not find the K15, 000 job and am equally not one of the most learned citizen. Firstly, this is because in Zambia Jobs are had to find. There are literary few jobs out here. Secondly, at CBU it was not my skills which where examined but my memory. What I'm trying to say: Am trying to tell fellow intellectuals that the reality out here is very different from all the fantasies we have on our minds when we are still in school,” he explains. 

He notes that most CBU graduates are looking for employment. 

“Is CBU training employees or entrepreneurs? Do not tell me about lack of capital because CBU students have a lot of money. Somebody once said Government does not improve the economy. Its the entrepreneurs who do. Government only make policies for entrepreneurs to survive,” says Mr Mwanza.  

Meanwhile, Mr Mwanza who is also Copperbelt muslim youths program coordinator has urged graduates to change their attitudes. 

“If we are going to change the situation, let us change our attitudes. Instead of using up all of our meal allowances to buy expensive phones, let us invest that money. If its not enough, form partnership and put that money together then invest. Imagine how many direct and indirect jobs we would create if just half of CBU students decided to start investing in small businesses?” he said. 

He added that students in other countries like Uganda have embraced self employment. 

“A study was conducted at one of the universities in Uganda. They where asking students what they intend to do after graduating. Most of the students interviewed said things like: I want to open a plumbing company when I graduate, I want to started a company specialized in fixing industrial machines, I want to invest in poultry, I want to a food processing company etc. But that is not the case with CBU students! A CBU student will tell you about which company they dream working for. Engineers will tell you about CEC and ZESCO. Foresters will tell you about ZAFFICO,” Mr Mwanza lamented.