UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN EA WORRYING

Unemployment rate in the East African Community (EAC) bloc has escalated to a worrying 80 percent. 

This is more profound with the youth population where economic challenges have left thousands of them jobless.  

"The situation is worrisome", warned Anthony Manyara, the President of the recently launched East African Students' Union (Easu). 

He revealed this in Arusha last week during the swearing in of members of the executive committee of the organization. 

Mr. Manyara, a student from the University of Nairobi, said the crisis must be addressed by the regional governments.

He said 60 percent of the general population were youth and that economic growth was slowed down by them being unemployed.

"How can we achieve our vision of a prosperous East Africa with such a high rate?", he asked during an event at the EAC headquarters. 

The gravity of the situation, he explained, is reflected in the recent job announcements at the EAC which attracted over 10,000 applicants.

Youth unemployment in East Africa has been a matter of debate for  years and varies from one country to another.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) report, 2018, shows Rwanda has the highest unemployment rate for the youth; 15.2 percent.

It is followed by Kenya ( 11.5 percent Uganda (10 percent) and 2.3 percent and 1.5 percent for Tanzania and Burundi respectively. 

EAC secretary general Peter Mathuki said the Community was keen in involving the youth in decision making processes. 

He said the EAC Youth Policy was formulated in 2013 as a binding framework for involvement of the youth in relevant projects. 

Other speakers raised the challenges in cross border movement across the EAC borders, saying they must be addressed.

"A prosperous EAC is beneficial for us all.We as students have the time and energy of learning and understanding how the EAC works", said Joshua Mafabi, Easu executive secretary.