Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana’s prosperity in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution will be determined not by its natural resources, but by the strength and quality of its human capital, says Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Jimmy Opelo.
Speaking at the official opening of the 8th Strategic HR Conference 2025 in Gaborone on Tuesday, Mr Opelo underscored the critical role of human resources in driving organisational success.
“HR is the backbone of an organisation therefore, it is important to empower, train and develop employees with skills that will help an organisation to grow,” he said.
Mr Opelo further stated that the country stood at a unique historical and political inflexion point.
“The recent transition in governance is more than a political event and it is a national awakening in every form and shape of our everyday life,” he said.
The transition, he said, signaled a commitment to performance-based leadership, evidence-based governance and people-centered development, consciousness and leadership.
Mr Opelo further stated that government was retooling policies and laws to reflect its vision of service delivery and capability.
He said currently there was intense deliberation in Parliament, where legislators were discussing the Employment and Labour relations Bill.
“This Bill represents a comprehensive reform, consolidating the existing acts, such as the Employment Act, the Trade Unions and Employers’ Organisation Act and the Trade disputes Act into a unified, progressive framework,” he said.
Mr Opelo added that it reflected values of equity, fairness, productivity and competitiveness not connections.
For his part, Regenesy Founder and chairperson, Dr Marko Saravanja highlighted that many global challenges stemmed from a lack of conscious leadership, leaders who were not self-aware, empathetic and socially responsible.
He stated that low self-esteem could deter talented individuals who felt they did not belong, reinforcing the need for inclusive leaders who uplift diverse voices.
Progressive Institute CEO, Mr Mmoloki Mmolotsi called on government to open and facilitate the export of unemployed graduates to international markets.
“There are many young people that have resorted to prostitution and many other unwanted elements due to unemployment which is quite concerning,” he said.
He further stated that there was a need for a transformation involving HR practices with national priorities, fostering a skilled workforce and ensuring that human capital development remained at the heart of economic progress.
Held under the theme: Meritocracy in Motion: Reengineering HR for Workforce Excellence and National Competitiveness, the conference brought together HR professionals, policymakers, business leaders and government stakeholders to discuss critical workforce strategies in an evolving political and economic landscape.
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