EMPLOYMENT GAINS UNDER NEW DAWN GOV’T

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Posted by admin on March 17, 2026 at 5:49 AM

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Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts Elvis Nkandu says the majority of policies developed under the New Dawn administration have benefitted young people through expanded employment opportunities.

Speaking on ZNBC’s Sunday Interview, Mr. Nkandu noted that the massive recruitment of teachers, health workers, and other professionals has largely targeted the youth.

He explained that when the UPND formed government in 2021, many trained teachers and other graduates were unemployed due to an employment freeze imposed by the previous regime.

“From 2010, a number of youths were not being employed, so when we came into office, this is what we started addressing,” he said.

Nkandu emphasized that the government has also created an enabling environment for private sector investment, citing mining firms such as Lumwana and Kansanshi as examples of companies offering thousands of jobs to young people.

“Right now, we are not only depending on government jobs because the environment is good for the private sector,” he added.

The Minister, who also serves as UPND deputy spokesperson, said the administration is pushing hard to grow the economy so that more youth can access opportunities.

He claimed that despite emerging challenges, the government has fulfilled 80 percent of its campaign promises.

Nkandu expressed confidence that youth will continue to support UPND, pointing to empowerment programmes funded through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), school bursaries, and other interventions.

“It will be difficult to unseat UPND without proper alternative policies from the opposition,” he said.