20 Nov 2019

Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Mpho Balopi says there are no plans to build a brigade in  Chadibe in the Sefhare-Ramokgonami constituency.

“At this stage and considering government’s plans to develop vocational skills and the associated limited resources, there are no plans to build a brigade in Chadibe,” Mr Balopi.

He was responding to a question from the Sefhare-Ramokgonami MP, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang in Parliament.

Mr Balopi said issues relating to development of vocational skills in that geographic area were being addressed through the Rapid Skills Centre.

While there was need for vocational training, Mr Balopi said national resource limitations were such that, at present, a brigade could not be established in the village.  

He explained that in 2006, through a presidential directive, government undertook a decision to establish technical colleges in a number of geographical areas that included Kgatleng (river villages), Khakhea, Phitshane-Molopo, Boteti, Ngami and the then Tswapong South Constituency (now Sefhare-Ramokgonami).

“Due to a number of challenges, which impacted negatively on the economy, the intended plan could not be undertaken. Considering the need to promote vocational training and develop skills among Batswana especially the youth, government continues to push for alternative means subject to availability of resources,” he said.

Through a Presidential Directive of 2017, Mr Balopi said, government took a decision to establish rapid skills development centres around the country, with one of them in Chadibe.

 He said phase one of the Chadibe Rapid Skills Centre was complete and offered programmes in painting, carpentry, bricklaying and plastering. Other planned programmes for the Chadibe centre were tiling, plumbing and pipefitting. 

He said the centre was run by Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF).  Mr Balopi said the skills development centres provided modularised competency-based vocational training.

He said other skills development centres were opened in Tsau, Chadibe, Thamaga and Moreomaoto. 

Mr Balopi added that plans were underway to open other such centres in Ncojane, Khakhea, Phitshane-Molopo and Bokspits.

Dr Gobotswang had asked the Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development to update Parliament as to whether there were plans to construct a brigade in Chadibe. 

He had also wanted the ministry to update Parliament on the plan of establishing such a facility and on the contrary to explain if there was no need to establish such a facility. Ends