Botswana Mining Review Comprehensive Coverage of the Progress and Achievements in the Mining Sector
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The Ministry of Higher Education and China invested Khoemacau Copper Mining have signed a collaboration agreement to establish a Mining Center of Excellence at Maun Technical College in the country’s North West District, aimed at training technical workers for the local mining sector.
Speaking at the signing in Gaborone, Minister of Higher Education Prince Maele said, “The partnership represents a new way of thinking about skill development, technical education, relationship of education and industry, designed to produce graduates who are skilled, employable, innovative, adaptable and globally competitive, bringing the classroom closer to the workplace so that theory must meet practice, and knowledge translates into productivity.” He described the goal as ensuring young people leave school ready to work, cultivating not just job seekers but problem solvers and entrepreneurs equipped to enter the workforce with practical, industry relevant skills, adding that he is looking forward to a productive, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with the project.
China Minmetals Corporation, parent company of Khoemacau investor MMG’s Chairman, Chen Dexin described the mine project as a bridge of friendship between China and Botswana and pledged the corporation’s long term commitment to the country’s socio economic development. He said the Mining Center of Excellence aims to build local capacity through world class training and produce a substantial pool of skilled workers, describing its purpose as extending far beyond running training courses to include lasting community and regional benefit.Minister of International Affairs Phenyo Butale said Botswana’s relationship with China has evolved beyond financial assistance toward skills transfer, the approach that underpinned China’s own development, describing the centre as a step toward building a pipeline of Batswana technicians and engineers who will eventually lead the mining sector rather than simply work in it.
In conclusion, the Minister of Minerals and Energy Bogolo Kenewendo said the government is focused on making work based learning standard practice and letting industry help shape curricula, pointing to the Kalahari Copper Belt and other base metal deposits as central to diversifying an economy long dominated by diamonds. Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Pius Mokgware and Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong also attended the event.
