Call for skills development

Fortunate Gora Mashonaland West Correspondent
Government has challenged the private sector and development partners to come up with strategic skills and technical development programmes that will translate Zimbabwe’s high literacy levels into high productivity. Speaking at the Great Indaba for Education Development in Kariba recently, Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Webster Shamu said the tripartite – Government, private sector and development partners – should develop skills meant to spur the country’s industrial development.

“Let us all come up with strategies for skills and technical development to turn our high literacy levels into high productivity,” he said.

Minister Shamu appealed to the corporate world and development partners to assist Government in infrastructure development.

This, he said, would assist schoolchildren and the community at large in their day-to-day activities.
“Let me take this opportunity to appeal to the corporate world and development partners to assist Government to construct or rehabilitate roads and bridges in rural areas in Nyaminyami,” he said.

“The bridges and roads will make it safe and easier for schoolchildren and the community at large to travel in the district.”
Minister Shamu said the new dispensation envisaged a situation where the civil society worked with Government in harmony to effectively and efficiently deliver social services, and to mobilise the public to participate in developmental programmes.

“The opportunities for the private sector to invest in education are now open and we should see a rapid growth in this sector,” he said.

“His Excellency, the President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, has taken the lead in opening up the economy in all sectors, including education.”

Minister Shamu expressed his gratitude to the Zambezi River Authority and Zimbabwe Power Company, among other corporates, which have contributed to the construction of schools and provision of school fees to the less privileged in Kariba district.

Chiefs and community leaders also participated in brick moulding for schools and clinics in the district.
“I am pleased by the level of participation by various organisations and individuals,” said Minister Shamu.

“This is evidence that the call by President Mnangagwa that we should all participate in developing our economy has been heard and is being implemented.”