Africa-Press – Lesotho. Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has awarded certificates to 184 local community builders at Molumong, Mokhotlong, who have acquired skills in stone and bricklaying.
The builders have been tested and accredited by the Technical and Vocational Department (TVD). LHDA is implementing this initiative under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) II.
Speaking at the ceremony, Polihali Branch Manager Gerard Mokone highlighted that the project had revolved around villages and councils to understand the needs of the people as well as the steps and measures to take in order to improvise their lives.
“What we got from these consultations was that high rate of unemployment is the key issue, and that most of those with skills were not accredited.
We collaborated with the Ministry of Education and Training through the department of TVD to assess whether some of these people had skills so as to offer them jobs,” he said.
Mokone added that so far they have assisted those who have skills in stone and bricklaying and will also assess those who have different skills either in roofing or electrification in due time.
On behalf of the graduates, ‘Meta Naha exchanged a vote of thanks to the chiefs who were obliged identify skilled personnel to assist during the implementation of the Polihali project.
He said LHDA has given them the opportunity to have access of jobs inside and outside the country. He added that men are, by default, bread winners, therefore, having the means to support their families will ease in handling this responsibility.
Naha said he hopes they will find jobs easily or have the opportunity to work with the LHDA. Meanwhile, TVD Examiner Tumelo ‘Mota indicated that it was not an easy journey when they began the examination.
He said they encountered problems as there were others who had difficulties in reading and writing but they were able to solve the glitches. The graduates were assessed through numismatics, which is the study and analysis of how people read money, to qualify for the programme.
Also present at the event was the Minister of Water Hon. Kemiso Mosenene, who reflected that this is the second capacity building milestone following the first batch of 200 graduates from the same Mapholaneng community.
He said the main mandate is for each and every one to have jobs in order to survive. He further said the certificates are recognized in foreign countries, saying job opportunities are also higher. Mosenene promised that another group of skilled individuals will be identified and accredited.
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