Local labourers benefit from skills transfer programme

Ulla Setswalo | Monday November 30, 2015 18:00

The Expo competition is called “Itlhokotse Skills Transfer Programme”. Masisi said the initiative gives hope that a new way of doing business is emerging within the construction industry. 

“I anticipate that other companies will follow suite and initiate similar programmes,” he said.

Masisi noted that it is not common practice for a construction company to initiate a mentorship programme such as this one geared at improving the quality of their labour force. “This initiative gives hope that a new way of doing business is emerging within the construction industry. I anticipate that other companies will follow suit and initiate similar programmes,” he said.

He stated that as government, they appreciate any initiative from the private sector which complements the social development programmes.

According to the deputy director of the Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF), Sabryn Tsie, the training programme is a partnership between Zhengtai and CITF.

He further said that his organisation is established to offer crash skills training programme to facilitate training as a matter of urgency so that Batswana construction workers can meet the needs of the building and construction industry without having to rely on imported skills.

Tsie also added that the average training is between four to six months in mechanical, civil and electrical engineering as well as supervisory management. CITF prides itself in giving 100 percent of mastery tasks.

Chinese ambassador to Botswana, ZhuQiang Zheng congratulated the participants and winners who demonstrated their skills in less than an hour with their on site tasks. Some of the 54 trainees who were demonstrating their learned skills did brick laying, shuttering, to mention but a few. ZhuQiang noted that, “

Zhengtai’s skill and technology training programme will raise morale, increase employees’ dignity and loyalty which is key for industrial drive for the company.”

He also revealed that his embassy is always supportive and encouraging Chinese enterprises in Botswana to do such initiatives so as to help in the socio-economic development of locals. Itlhokotse is hailed as an initiative that can improve the livelihood of the artisans and possibly address issues related to delays in project execution and poor quality workmanship.