Preparations are underway by the Ministry of Public Service and Labour to contract a South African firm to formulate a policy and implementation strategy of bridging the wide skills gap that exits in the country.

This was revealed yesterday by the Minister of Public Service and Labour, Anastase Murekezi.

"On October 10, 2009 we will invite different South African companies to present their proposals and we shall choose from these,” he said.

He added that once the selection is complete, the selected company will: "formulate a policy and implementation of an action plan for human development in the country.”

This follows 2008 findings by Human Resources and Institutional Capacity Development Agency [HIDA] revealing the nature of the skills gap in the country despite set goals.

According to Charles Karake, the HIDA Director, the skills audit was not just to put down figures but provide evidence for policy gaps and prepare national skills development policy.

Karake said that the country is on the right track to close these abnormal gaps.
"We shouldn’t lengthen the timeframe. The country is zealous. The option is to bring in skills and the country has accepted to do this. We cannot develop any agenda before addressing the skills gap,” he said.

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