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For the benefit of frustrated Zimbabwean youth who have graduated years ago and are holders of environmental studies or related qualifications here is my take on what can be done to help our brothers and sisters in the Zimbabwe economy.
The first advice I would give is for one to look beyond Zimbabwean job market, which is tough considering our curriculum design & stiffer competition at the global stage. The job market in South Africa for example is shrinking and has always bern like that. Friends ended teaching
In a modern society, a country need to enforce strict environmental monitoring to meet international obligations. Some international financial institutions tie their developmental loans to strong environmental performance and sustainability.
What needs to be done to unlock jobs? EMA and the ministry of environment need to come up with permits that expire every year. These permits are paid for and should be strictly monitored and copies be available online for people to inspect to avoid corruption.
The permits are applied for by any business that have operations with potential environmental impact. Yearly audits against the consent to operating permit should be carried out before renewal. Revenue from these permits is enough to employ more than 5000 degreed inspectors.
Not only they can raise revenue from permits. Non compliances with the conditions of the permit should be penalized with the offender paying the cost of remedial actions. So all in all EMA has potential to unlock more than 5k permanent jobs.
Excess revenue can create a funding for projects like recycling, green energy, water conservation and organic fertilizers and other green projects. These can create full industries on their own and it is an area South Africa is doing very well.
We have thousands of tons of tires that can be converted to other products like tiles, carpets, oil or diesel. Simple pyrolysis plants can be bought for our youths to operate and create jobs. Paper and plastic can be intensively recycled and create jobs for unemployed mothers
The initial cost is very minimal compared to some monies looted. Converting ldpe plastics to polyester and make clothese that we spend millions importing from China. All recycled materials are ending in China right now because they use them for the clothes we buy from them.
Electronics end up in Singapore where they extract all the gold and rare earth minerals. These are the things I learnt through traveling and in my new roles that should be create jobs in Zimbabwe.
An integrated waste management system is need for all local authorities that focus on cyclic economy and waste to energy. We don't need forex to segregate waste from our houses. We don't need forex to create organic fertilizers that we can sell to farmers. Its all about the will.
