Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
THE Government has launched a centralised skills audit targeting the mining and agriculture sectors while simultaneously collaborating with City of Harare to identify skills gaps in urban service delivery.
This comes as Government is ramping up its efforts to improve efficiency across key economic areas.
The audit is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Skills, Audit and Development, which aims to use the findings to guide national development planning and enhance public service efficiency.
In an interview, Skills Audit and Development Minister Professor Paul Mavima said Government had developed a comprehensive framework for the National Critical Skills Audit, which will build upon the last audit conducted in 2018.
“We have developed a general framework for the National Critical Skills Audit, which will be a follow-up to the 2018 audit,” he said.
“But we are putting together the resources that are needed. So we are hoping that as we go into 2026, we will be able to start on that National Critical Skills Audit, which will then give us a better idea of the skills gaps that are in the country.”
Minister Mavima said sectoral skills audits were crucial for aligning a country’s workforce capabilities with its economic goals.
“It identifies existing skills gaps, emerging industry demands, and areas of oversupply or shortage, allowing for informed planning and targeted investment in education and training,” he said.
“A well-executed audit empowers policymakers, businesses, and training institutions to respond strategically to evolving labour market needs, enhance productivity, and reduce unemployment especially among youth.”
He added that this sectoral skills audit will ensure that national development is underpinned by a skilled, competitive, and future-ready workforce.
The ministry responded to direct requests from local authorities, with the Harare City Council initiating a targeted skills audit to address its own service delivery challenges.
The process, according to the Minister, involves identifying the competencies required for efficient service provision, comparing them to the current human capital, and proposing ways to close the skills gap.
“First of all, establish what skills they want for them to be effective in the delivery of services in the City of Harare. Then we will say, do they have these skills,” he said.
“And which skills do they not have? How can they fill the gaps? So that process has already started.”
Minister Mavima also confirmed plans to extend the skills audits to other sectors in 2025, forming the foundation for a nationwide, methodologically rigorous audit envisioned for 2026.
He said although consultations done so far have shed light on broad national skills shortages, a more structured and sector-specific audit is essential to obtain a clearer picture.
“We need to be more specific with an audit that is well-structured, with a good methodology, and conducted in a robust and rigorous way,” said Minister Mavima.
