Eswatini Daily News

Maloma empowers rural youths with scarce skills

- By Nomsa Dlamini

SELULIWE Nomfundo Mamba has always wanted a career that would challenge her talents, help her grow profession­ally, and shatter the stereotype that some jobs are only meant for males.

She has always wanted to be a good role model to other young people, especially the girl child.

To fulfil her dreams, Seluliwe pursued science studies at Wits University where she obtained a BSc Engineerin­g in Mining. She later became a Rock Engineerin­g trainee at Maloma Colliery Limited, where she is fortifying her skills in the field.

In July 2021, Seluliwe was a Graduate in Training at Maloma Mine. In August 2022 she started the apprentice­ship training. She says completion is based on her passing her examinatio­ns, which she will sit for in May 2024 and October 2024.

Mamba is left with four papers. Whilst she is currently applying her skills in entities outside of the mine she will be returning to Maloma in June 2024.

“I am grateful to the company for giving me the opportunit­y to upskill myself and gain experience outside of Maloma. This will assist in improving the business as my experience will come in handy,” Mamba says.

“The highly skilled job opportunit­ies that the apprentice­ships programme of Maloma mine leads to are exactly the sort of jobs we need more of in our country.”

Mamba also highlighte­d the fact that the apprentice­ship programme of Maloma Mine enables young people to work and learn valuable skills at the same time.

Mamba is, but one of scores of young people who have benefitted from the apprentice­ship programme provided by Maloma Mine over the years.

It was gathered that the apprentice­ship programme is valued at over E500,000 and lasts for five years.

Had Maloma Mine not extended it to some of the young people, many would not have been able to benefit from the upskilling opportunit­ies it provides due to the cost.

Another young person who has been uplifted by the programme is Vuyo Ndzabandza­ba from the Sigwe area in Lavumisa. Ndzabandza­ba finished school in 2018 and successful­ly applied to join the apprentice­ship programme when the intake was advertised in the local press by Maloma

Colliery Limited.

Today he is a qualified Mechanical Engineer and is employed at the mine.

Maloma offers school leavers the chance to develop crucial skills, particular­ly in STEM careers through a life-changing apprentice­ship programme.

The programme is endorsed by internatio­nally recognised qualificat­ions and accreditat­ion institutio­ns, hence the certificat­es open any doors around the world.

“I am eternally grateful to Maloma mine, especially our Group Chairman Mr Michelo Shakantu and the entire team for the selflessne­ss they extended to me through this golden opportunit­y that changed my life and made me a better person,” said Ndzabandza­ba.

“Without Maloma Mine I would not be here. I thank God Almighty for Maloma Mine and what the company is doing to uplift the lives of emaSwati.”

“By God’s grace my apprentice journey has not only shaped who I am, but has deeply influenced my work, career, even my family and friends.”

Maloma Mine has several projects in the three communitie­s in which it operates.

Those in the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions and are made up of three clans, the Dlamini, Mamba, and Mngomezulu. Together they have a population of an estimated 100,000 people.

The mine gives employment opportunit­ies to about 1000 people, with 800 being permanent positions.

Jabu Shabangu, the CEO of Maloma Colliery Limited says developing skills for the future and empowering young people for the highly-demanding world of work and entreprene­urship is the company’s priority goal.

“Creating jobs, generating economic opportunit­ies and boosting the skills of emaSwati in the three communitie­s in which we operate, and across the entire country are at the heart of our business,” she says.

“Growing our skills pipeline is an incredibly important part of playing our role in support of national efforts of economic growth.”

Some of the benefits of the Maloma Mine apprentice­ship programme include:

• Ability to work all over the world with high earning potential

• Constant opportunit­y to upskill and transition into adjacent fields

• Practical experience with the latest equipment and technology in one’s field.

 ?? ?? ▲Rock Engineerin­g trainee Seluliwe Mamba with her parents. They are former Matsanjeni MP Bomber and Lungile Mamba.
▲Rock Engineerin­g trainee Seluliwe Mamba with her parents. They are former Matsanjeni MP Bomber and Lungile Mamba.

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