Job Creation Government Priority

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Job Creation Government Priority
Job Creation Government Priority

Africa-Press – Botswana. Assistant Minister of Higher Education, Mr Justin Hunyepa has reiterated the government’s ambitious goal of creating 500 000 jobs over the next five years.

Speaking during a visit to the Zwenshambe Brigade on Sunday, Mr Hunyepa emphasised the necessity of altering societal norms to achieve this goal, stating, ‘we are going to end up working awkward hours, and in order to succeed, society must change how things are done.’

He further elaborated that significant changes would require individuals to step out of their comfort zones and engage in activities they might find uncomfortable.

“The government wants to create jobs because too many people are living in poverty while residing in a rich country,” Mr Hunyepa said.

He encouraged citizens to support the new government in its endeavours to foster job creation and improve their lives.

To ensure a solid foundation for this initiative, Mr Hunyepa has begun touring government facilities to gain insight into the challenges they faced.

He highlighted government’s commitment to labour-intensive work, suggesting that graduates from technical brigades could either create their own employment or work for others.

“Government wants to see graduates from the brigades employed in building schools, expanding clinics, constructing bridges and roads, and performing maintenance work,” he stated.

However, Mr Hunyepa acknowledged the severe underfunding of brigades, stressing the importance of aligning education with market demands. He pointed out a gap between the skills graduates possessed and those sought by the private sector.

“Equipment in schools is outdated, leading to a situation where companies often reject trained individuals because they are not familiar with the mechanized technology used in the workplace,” he explained.

He called for trainees from brigades and technical colleges to be provided with tools and equipment as start-up resources upon completion of their training.

Additionally, he proposed that students should have opportunities to generate income through projects while studying, which could also serve the community.

During the visit, Ms Boitshepo Phiri, a teacher at Zwenshambe Brigade, reported that the institution currently had 19 teaching staff and 27 support staff members, with a total of 124 trainees enrolled in various programmes such as Auto Mechanics, Carpentry and Joinery, Bricklaying and Plastering, and Business Studies.

She raised concerns regarding resource shortages and outdated equipment, along with issues stemming from old water pipes that frequently burst, costing the institution and the neighboring Community Junior Secondary School over P1.5 million monthly.

Furthermore, Ms Phiri highlighted that the living allowance of P300 for students living privately in the village was insufficient.

In the welcoming remarks, Kgosi Moses Mabutho of Zwenshambe expressed his frustration regarding the delayed upgrading of the local clinic, a project originally scheduled for 1999.

He revealed that teachers often had to use their personal vehicles to transport sick students to Masunga Primary Hospital at night due to the lack of an ambulance.

Kgosi Mabutho also raised concerns about community safety, requesting a satellite police station due to rising vehicle thefts along the border.

He highlighted the dangers posed by damaged border fencing allowing elephants and cattle to cross into Botswana from Zimbabwe, resulting in significant crop destruction and risks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Further, Kgosi Mabutho addressed concerns surrounding the treatment of Dikgosi, noting disparities in salary scales and the exclusion of some from constitutional protections.

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