29 Nov 2015

Acting  President Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has commended the Zhengtai Group for training artisans, saying it compliments the government’s social development programme.  

Speaking at the annual artisan development expo competitions at Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH), Mr Masisi said the initiative comes at the right time when the government was accelerating economic growth and job creation through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

The acting President said construction was one of the major components of ESP hence the mass skilling of youth through the Itlhokotse skills transfer programme.

Zhengtai Group and its subsidiary company, Red East Construction have partnered with the Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF) to train their labourers on site.

Mr Masisi encouraged participants to envision themselves beyond being artisans, saying they should aspire owning construction companies and should also invest in training to advance their careers.

For his part, Zhengtai Group’s Mr Steven Liu said they started the programme four years ago as they were faced with challenges of skilled manpower when they were undertaking big projects.

He said they knew that proper implementation of the programme would make a vast difference in the quality of their projects in terms of improving the workmanship.  

“The government has constantly complained to contractors about projects failing and government monies being wasted on projects that are failing.

So we took it upon ourselves as Zhengtai Group to try to improve on what our company has to offer to this country by upskilling our labour on site, some of them are gathered here to watch as they showcase their improved skills,” he said.

Mr Lui said the training programme encompasses all of their labour in different sites across the country.

“At Zhengtai Group we have always understood the importance of human capital, which is the core of our business and hence we have invested intensely in the development of our workers,” he said.

He said the programme has improved the quality of construction works on their site, and has also improved the trainees themselves as they were motivated to do more and prove themselves with the aim of improving their lives.

However, he said they have lost some of their trained staff in search of greener pastures.

“We don’t stop them from leaving as we are training them to benefit projects end products as well as themselves career wise,” he said.

He said they would continue with their efforts to improve their construction methods and the quality of products they produce. Ends