Chief Mvuthu-elect, Saunders Mlotshwa has implored youths in Victoria Falls to strive to acquire basic Ordinary Level education so as to reclaim tourism jobs literally stolen from them by people from other towns.
This follows long-standing concerns that the tourism industry operators are in the habit of importing labour from other provinces at the expense of locals.
Industry executives have in the past defended the move saying they employ on merit and as a result, locals lose out because of the lack of a tourism training school to capacitate them in the country’s resort city.
Victoria Falls is the only city in the country without a tertiary or vocational training school for tourism courses, as the sector is the main economic activity, employing more than 80 percent of the city’s population.
Lupane State University last year acquired land to start a tourism school in Victoria Falls and construction is yet to begin.
Addressing mourners at the burial of his mother Emma Tshabangu-Mlotshwa recently, Mlotshwa said it was disheartening that most local youths are jobless when the city has a viable tourism industry.
“I want to appeal to youths to go out there and get 5 Ordinary level subjects so that you can get jobs in the tourism industry,” said Mlotshwa.
He said the elderly in the community had committed to assisting young people to get employment.
“Us as your elders and leaders will help you get jobs. What worries us is that the issue of prospective job seekers having to show 5 O Level passes only applies to local children. People are brought overnight and they are getting jobs yet our children are unemployed on the pretext that they do not have the required 5 O Levels. Go get these subjects and we will help you,” he said.
Mlotshwa implored youths to embrace technology and leverage on the accessibility of phones and internet connectivity.
He discouraged youths from using technology for criminal activities.
Busing of labour has been topical at various platforms in Victoria Falls.
The residents association has in the past besieged some businesses for importing labour and ordered some job seekers to leave the city.
Combined Victoria Falls Residents Association chair Kelvin Moyo recently said there was no tangible reason the companies were importing labour as locals have equal capabilities.
