22 Apr 2015

Government is not doing enough to train people with relevant skills that can grow the economy, the managing director of Allied Engineering Services, Mr Emmanuel Paradza has said.

He was speaking during a breakfast meeting addressed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Vincent Seretse, in Francistown on April 21.

Mr Paradza urged the government to provide apprenticeship training that was relevant for the industry. He said economic development that had led to growth in jobs was business-oriented services and the increase in construction activities.

He said more construction brought higher demand for engineering, architecture, surveying, landscaping and horticultural services.  Dr Kgosidialwa Mompati, a general health practitioner, said the time had come for the business community to sell their ideas to the government for the benefit of the country as a whole. 

The managing director of Tati Nickel Mining Company (TNMC), Mr Ogaisitse Khama disputed that government services were mainly based in Gaborone, and that Francistown was battling to utilise them.

He pleaded with the minister to decentralise such services, adding that Francistown should be a special economic zone targeting investors.  In response, Mr Seretse said that work ethics in the country was not up to standard.

He urged everyone to share an aspiration to make sure that the economy improved.

He further noted that the private sector had been identified as the most bearing factor to the business economy, and advised the business community to rethink and foster a new partnership for the achievement of their national goals of industrial development. 

Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Sadique Kebonang highlighted that the idea of the meeting was to create a platform between government and the business community. 

The meeting was meant to discuss issues that were of particular interest to both the government and the private sector in terms of growing the economy and creating employment. ENDS