TEVETA, SOUTH AFRICAN FIRM PARTNER TO BOOST MANUFACTURING SECTOR

TECHN ICAL Educa t ion , Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) and Production Technologies of South Africa (PTSA) have partnered to develop relevant skills for value addition, agro-processing in an effort to boost Zambia’s manufacturing sector.

TEVETA Manager for Corporate Affairs, Clive Siachiyako said the partnership with PTSA was part of bilateral engagement aimed at developing a training programme in toolmaking, which was critical in strengthening Zambia’s manufacturing abilities.

Mr Siachiyako said the partnership included capacity building for lecturers in toolmaking, curriculum development, and assessment of instruments development.

He said that the bilateral collaboration also seeks to support mining sector productivity targets by the Zambia.

Mr Siachiyako said Government was focusing on value addition to enhance agriculture production, agro-processing and manufacturing sectors.

He stated that the partnership would help in various sectors through knowledge gathering and sharing, building capacities, and development of different skills.

"Apprentices in heavy duty equipment training in Zambia will be exposed to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) that supply mining companies in Zambia. TEVETA has signed an apprenticeship programme with Bell Equipment Zambia and part of their training will be done at the Bell Equipment manufacturing facilities in South Africa to effectively manage the earthmoving equipment Bell Equipment supplies to mining companies.

“Without competent mine operators, achieving our mining sector productivity targets for the country will mean importing labour from countries with right artisanal skills," he said.

Mr Siachiyako said Zambia needed the right skills in the right quantities to meet copper production targets, create jobs and wealth as part of the socioeconomic transformation agenda.