Botswana boasts of strong human capital in mining

As competition heightens within the SADC bloc to lure foreign direct investment (FDI) for the extractive industry, Botswana’s vast human resource has been added as another competitive advantage to attract investors to explore the country’s mineral resource.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi addressing delegates at the ongoing Mining Indaba in Capetown South Africa this week, said the country’s labour market has sufficient skilled mining personnel.

“Botswana has enough skilled mining personnel, from graduates to experienced operators and experts that the industry is not able to absorb,” said Masisi.

Masisi further highlighted that the country’s organised and regulated labour movement facilitates labour relations that offer platforms of engagement on labour matters, managing the risk of labour disputes that could disrupt operations.

He added that the overall progressive nature of Botswana’s mineral policy and laws together with its investment climate makes Botswana competitive for the next investment dollar in the mineral space.

Over 6,500 mining experts are gathered at the annual mining jamboree that has been held successfully for the past 27 years and different government representatives from Botswana and her peers have also graced the occasion to attract FDI.

This year’s edition of the Mining Indaba is being held under the banner: ‘Evolution of African Mining: Investing in the Energy Transition, ESG, and the Economies.’

The theme resonates with the Paris Agreement of December 2015, which came into force on the 4th November 2016, and many countries have embarked on efforts to assess the consequences of climate change.