20 Nov 2013

The weakest link in Botswana’s economy is the shortage of artisans, which are vital skills that the economy needs, Tati West MP, Mr Charles Tibone, has said.

“I know that we have made tremendous strides in other areas in education, but we are short of artisans and we need urgent action to ensure that we flood the market with artisans,” he added.

Mr Tibone was responding to the President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s State-of-the-Nation Address in Parliament, on Tuesday, November 19.  He acknowledged that the education and skills development minister, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, had said that there were efforts being made to improve the situation.

However, he said the problem still remained, adding that “if you require the services of a plumber you will have to engage a Zimbabwean in Botswana. If you require the services of an electrician, you will have to engage either a Zimbabwean or a Zambian.”

Commenting on other issues pertaining to the education sector, Mr Tibone urged that the Back- to -School initiative should be pursued with vigour, “because it provided what was otherwise going to be a lost generation with a lifeline and that is why Batswana have accepted it so positively."

He also emphasised the need to ensure that every citizen was accounted for in the country’s education system, which he said was noted in the Kedikilwe Commission. “We appear to have lost sight of that objective. But, as we plan our education we should not leave anybody out at all, ” he added.

He said he had also realised that this was a long term objective and “it would take time before we get there.” Therefore, at the moment, he said he would like to see the education being structured in such a way that there was a constructive relationship between education and the world of work.

On the health sector, he observed that the levels of patients’ congestion at referral hospitals was unacceptably high and needed high level intervention and attention. As part of the solution, Mr Tibone also indicated that, “we should improve competencies at lower levels, particularly at the districts hospitals.”

Meanwhile, in accordance with Section 24 (2) of the Competition Act of 2009, Trade and Industry assistant minister and also Gaborone North MP, Mr Keletso Rakhudu, has tabled before parliament the 2012/2013 Annual Report on the operations of the Competition Authority for the year ended 31st March 2013.

In addition, in accordance with Section 26 (2) of the Small Business Act of 2003, Act No. 7 of 2004, Mr Rakhudu also tabled the 2012/2013 Annual Report on the operations of the Local Enterprise Authority for the year ended 31st March 2013. ENDS