26 Jun 2016

Serowe farmers’ brigade will be maintained through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) to the tune of P5.7million.

The brigade is one of the oldest brigades in the country, having started in 1965 as an institution that offered training with production.

Speaking at the project launch held at Serowe Farmers Brigade, Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Moiseraele Goya said the project entails maintenance of 20 staff houses, milking parlour and poultry house.

He said vocational training was important in growing the economy of the country, adding that the country also needs blue collar jobs to go forward.

Mr Goya said young people should not shun blue collar jobs as in developed countries such jobs pay higher than white collar jobs.

He said the country was also moving in that direction and would like to address challenges of unemployment and food shortage through vocational training.

The assistant minister said maintenance of the brigade would allow it to operate its milking parlour fully, adding that the milking parlour would come in handy to help increase milk production in the country.

He said ESP among others aimed at employment creation and he commended the company awarded the tender for employing 30 people, 10 of which are from Serowe.

Mr Goya, who is also MP for Palapye said his ministry would undertake a total of 47 maintenance projects this financial year to the tune of P711million, which would benefit 13 junior secondary schools and four brigades.

He urged the contractor to finish the project on time, on quality and on budget.

“We do not want cost overruns, scope variation and the use of sub-standard material,” he said.

For his part, acting deputy permanent secretary Mr Labane Mokgosi said ESP would help maintain many brigades this financial year, citing Shashe, Madiba and Serowe brigades.

Other brigades, he said would be maintained under the ESP phase two. The project started in May and is expected to be complete by October, this year.

Mr Mokgosi however raised concern over contractors who do not pay their employees accordingly and some who engage expatriate workers for positions that could be filled by the local people.

He said ESP was for Batswana therefore contractors should recruit local people.

The contractor, Mr Moyapo Tafa of Block Man Pty Ltd said the project was progressing well and promised to deliver the project on time and on budget.

The brigade principal, Mr Peter Nakedi welcomed the government’s effort through ESP saying that it would help resuscitate the brigade to be what it was in the past.

He said in the olden days, the brigade did yoghurt production hence the maintenance of the milk parlour would help to start that production.

He said it was his wish to grow the brigade but it had been challenging because of shortage of facilities and lecturers.

Mr Nakedi said the brigade also offers courses such as auto mechanics and wielding at NCC level, adding that the brigade would like to admit more students in future for this course.

It has 35 teaching staff and 446 students. Ends