Keetmanshoop, Rosh Pinah Zinc explore partnership

The Keetmanshoop municipality, in collaboration with the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) and Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre (KVTC), has held consultations with Rosh Pinah Zinc on opportunities to collaborate on skills development and establish a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Last week's engagement was led by mayor Emrico Blaauw, accompanied by councillors Ester Isaak and Gertzon Witbooi, municipal officials and representatives from NIMT and KVTC. Rosh Pinah Zinc general manager Francisco Ballesteros received the delegation and welcomed the initiative. The proposed MoU would focus on job attachments, work-integrated learning, apprenticeships, skills development and opportunities for young people to gain practical workplace experience.

Blaauw highlighted the importance of creating pathways for young people who have not completed secondary education or do not qualify for full academic programmes. He said partnerships should be explored to connect young people with practical skills training, apprenticeships and workplace opportunities.

“The Keetmanshoop municipality looks forward to continued engagements with Rosh Pinah Zinc, NIMT and KVTC towards establishing an MoU that will strengthen partnerships in skills development, training, job attachments and meaningful opportunities for the youth of Keetmanshoop,” he said.

Stronger collaboration

Rosh Pinah Zinc offers several skills development opportunities, including bursaries, apprenticeships, graduate training, professional-in-training programmes for critical skills and work-integrated training.

The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to Rosh Kor (Pty) Ltd as part of ongoing efforts to explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

Rosh Kor head Richard Cook received the delegation, and the engagement focused on identifying areas where the municipality and Rosh Kor could work together to address challenges facing the area, promote sustainable development and support the company's growth as a potential future local authority.