Beitbridge Border Post project upgrades employee skills

THE modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post has not only given a facelift to the town’s infrastructure but has also helped upskill at least 2 000 Zimbabweans, who were employed during the course of the project.

The Government and the Zimborders Consortium carried out the border transformation works at a cost of US$300 million.

This was done under a 17-and-half-year concession between the two parties. In an interview, the consortium’s chief executive officer, Mr Francois Diedrechsen, said they had employed more than 1 500 Zimbabweans through the course of the project.

He said the Beitbridge community had also benefitted from the key infrastructure including a fire station, a sewer oxidation dam, and improvement of water infrastructure that falls under the out-of-port works.

“During the construction, a total of 1 500 local jobs were created, and we ensured that on-job training and skills transfer processes were implemented through out construction so as to empower these employees with the ability to apply their new skills on other construction projects in the future,” said Mr Diedrechsen.

“Post construction, we have hired 285 direct local employees on site. You will note that skills transfer is managed through ongoing training and monitoring processes. To this end, for instance, the on-site general manager (Mr Nqobile Ncube), is a local Zimbabwean national who further oversees the monitoring and training processes of the various categories of on-site staff.

“So, in the end, we will have a number of locals who will have been empowered with a number of technical skills they may use for life”.

He said they will continue hiring more people to conduct operations at the three border terminals. The project was rolled out in three phases including the freight terminal, ICT facilities, roads (phase 1), the buses (phase 2), and (phase 3) the light vehicles terminal.

In addition, the project covered offsite works including the upgrading of water and sanitation facilities in Beitbridge town, building of 220 houses for border agencies, a fire station, an animal and plant quarantine, and a 11,4 megalitre water reservoir.

“The border transformation initiative is a positive development. A lot of youths got hired at the border by some stakeholders, and these include some from Beitbridge,” said a border employee, Ms Patience Moyo.

“It is pleasing to note that the project implementers also considered the upskilling model to empower most of the workers post the construction project.

“Some people can now work on their own to make a living, especially in the construction sector.”

Miss Bridget Tshedza Mudau from Tshapfutshe area said she was happy that the border project had created employment for Beitbridge women.

She said there were still more opportunities women could explore as more border agencies beef up their staff in line with the border expansion.

There are 22 border agencies operating at the border including Government departments.

“As traditional leaders, we are happy about this Government initiated project, which has helped address unemployment challenges in our communities,” said Chief David Stauze.

“Those trained in different skills were hired for full time jobs in departments like the Zimborders, which is managing the property. Some have been hired to beef up the security at the border among other departments.

“At the same time, I want to encourage the youth to take up the jobs that come with the transformation of the border and our town to turn around their lives and their families”.

Beitbridge Residents Association, Ms Rumbedzani Ribombo, was impressed that the Government had given recruitment priority to local community members in line with the devolution concept.

She said a sizeable number of community members, especially those from the rural areas had secured full-time jobs at the border and the news facilities.

“We applaud the Government for this project that had contributed to the reduction in unemployment in Beitbridge District,” said Ms Ribombo. — @tupeyo