29 Mar 2016

Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) has received the BOS ISO 9001:2008 certificate from Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) following successful re-certification audit process.    

The certification is an indication that BQA Quality Management System (QMS) standards have improved in order to add value to their operations towards meeting customer needs.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Gaborone recently, BQA board chairperson, Mr Charles Siwawa said Botswana economy can benefit from improved productivity and customer focused quality services and products that met international standards.

Mr Siwawa explained that ISO certification began in 2003 following a strategic decision by the then BOTA board to adopt a QMS to improve customer service and efficiency.

“We are confident that having managed to successfully integrate the ISO standards into the operations of BQA the public is assured of continued excellent quality of services and continuous performance improvement,” he said.

He said believed that the ISO standard would help the Authority to draw on international expertise and experience so that as an entity it continued to improve in efficiency, productivity and customer satisfaction.

Thus, he challenged the management to uphold all aspects and systems required to ensure sustainability of such certification.

In her remarks, BOBS managing director, Ms Masego Marobela said the new ISO standard challenged BQA to be more customer centric and efficient.

Ms Marobela highlighted that the whole process was audited by BOBS competent auditors who would also return to BQA in future for market surveillance.

She also noted that certification was commitment and thus urged BQA to cascade it down within the organisation for its optimal implementation.

Again, she said that was not the first time BQA had been issued a certificate it would not be difficult for them to transit to the new standard.

BQA chief executive officer, Mr Abel Modungwa indicated that the management’s commitment towards such initiative was demonstrated through training of staff as internal auditors.

“We achieved our first certification in 2006, followed by re-certifications in 2009, 2012 and now the current cycle. 

This continuation is indeed a major and critical milestone as it demonstrates that BQA, from the times of BOTA remained committed to providing quality service to our customers and stakeholders” Mr Modungwa said. 

Certification, he said demonstrated their willingness to establish and operate effective transparent systems, adding they were prepared to open the system to independent scrutiny and evaluation.

Notwithstanding, he commended the BQA staff and board for their tremendous support and hard work throughout the whole process and further thanked BOBS for their rigorous and meticulous evaluation throughout the whole process. Ends