Minister of Higher Education visits Morupule Coal Mine
Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) had the honour of hosting the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Prince Maele, during a strategic visit aimed at strengthening collaboration between industry and the education sector.
In his welcome remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Edwin Elias, expressed gratitude to the Minister and his delegation for taking the time to understand the Mine’s operations and aspirations. He shared Morupule’s vision to work more closely with the Ministry in advancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), with a focus on co-creating relevant curricula, embracing technology transfer and expanding work-integrated learning opportunities for young Batswana.
The Honourable Minister commended Morupule Coal Mine for its continued efforts to empower the youth through practical training and skills development, thereby positioning them to take up critical roles within the mining sector.
Of particular interest to the Minister was MCM’s bold and intentional drive to mobilise citizen-owned SMEs as part of its long-term strategy. This initiative, he noted, has the potential to stimulate job creation, build local capacity, improve operational performance, and ensure a sustainable legacy that endures beyond the Life-of-Mine. Honourable Maele, lauded the approach as forward-looking and precisely the kind of innovation required to propel the nation forward.
The visit also included a guided tour of MCM’s underground operations, offering the Minister and his delegation valuable firsthand insights into the technical complexities of coal extraction and the indispensable role of skilled labour in ensuring safe, efficient production.
This engagement reaffirmed Morupule Coal Mine’s unwavering commitment to partnering with the Ministry of Higher Education to shape a future-ready workforce. Through dual TVET and other collaborative efforts, MCM is proud to contribute to Botswana’s broader transition towards a knowledge-based, inclusive economy.
