By Changala Siame
I was quite privileged in life to be a General Manager in the mining company at the age of 27. The opportunity, instilled a lot of confidence and a sense of responsibility at a tender age in my career . Afterwards, I have had other privileges of holding senior positions in the corporate world and indeed being a Presidential Running Mate at the age of 35, was no mean achievement to me. It was a life changing experience and simply sensational. I owe it to God and the people that have been helping me to become .
While I was working for the mine in that capacity, I came to learn a lot in terms of the history of our mining industry. I would visit the underground sites from time to time and see how works are progressing. Most often, when a new machine is introduced or major repairs are done on the existing machine.
During my tenure, they was a change in policy of mining business operations. The all mining operations needed to be mechanized to boost productivity. This meant, for example, if you were using Jack Hammers for drilling, you needed to switch to more robust machines like Boomers, Long-hole drilling machines and so on. Not even pneumatic machines like Independent Rotation machines-IR were desired.
However, what this meant, was the reduction of human labour force in the mining sector. A working section underground, where you needed 21 Jack Hammer operators in one shift, were to be reduce 3 or 4 operators with the acquisition of a new machine. We had three shifts. That meant, under Jack hammer operations, we required 63 employees for three shifts. With the change, we had to reduce to 12 for the 3 shifts . Besides labor for mechanized operations were more skilled in comparison to Jack Hammer operators.
This change has had a of effect on the number of employees employed in the mining industry and the education and skills levels demanded.
Technology has really had a direct effect in many industries. We should not be thinking of creating as many jobs in the existing sector as we used to do as many operations have been robotic.
This development , will soon apply to jobs in the civil services. For example, a number of Teachers needed in school. With the coming of e-learning , we will need very few skilled trained Teachers. This will have an effect on employment of Teachers. A huge cost servicing to the government but with detrimental effects on human capital.
If anything, an progressive government, need to invest in Information Technology-IT to enhance the quality of education and other services through e-learning. Imagine pupils and students owning iPads, Smart phones and other gadget for purpose of e-learning?
This will reduce the pressure of building more schools but investment in Information technology and energy. Though cultural change will be difficult task to work on, it will not impossible, Rwanda is doing it.
Therefore, as Economic Freedom Fighters-EFF , we have that futuristic thinking of how best we need to plan for the future of this country. Our way of looking at the country employment opportunities are not without thinking of the negative effects of IT. It will even be more challenging for any successive government if we don’t start planning now for the inevitable change that is coming. The worry we have as Economic Freedom Fighters – EFF, is that if we are having challenges in our less engaged information technological environment to create job opportunities, how more will be in future ?
It’s because we care so much about this country and its future. This gives us a reason, we are seeking public office to help overcome some of these future challenges.
We have already set up a free education learning institute via e-learning and offering a practical agro business lesson . We are doing this because agriculture will be a sector that will still be employing more people in comparison to other sectors even with the expected changes we are anticipating.
Note: Enrollment for Free classes continues, just send your name, District and WhatsApp contact to 0966237612
