Driving growth through skills development at OTESA

Charmaine Tjirare has joined OTESA as the new training and development manager, bringing extensive experience in education and tertiary governance. With a strong focus on people development and organisational capability, Tjirare will lead initiatives to strengthen skills, technical competence and long-term talent growth aligned with OTESA’s mandate.

Commenting on the appointment, OTESA chief executive officer Elmo Kaiyamo said: “These appointments reflect the strategic direction OTESA is taking as we continue to grow and strengthen our operational and governance capacity. Procurement and tendering, and training and development are critical pillars for our sustainability and long-term impact."

He said he is confident that Tjirare will make a meaningful contribution to the continued success of OTESA. 

For Tjirare, the role presents both personal and professional opportunities. “Personally, the opportunity presents to me a clean slate where I can start afresh. Professionally, I have a platform to showcase my competencies and professionalism. It presents an opportunity to put to good use all the experience and education I have garnered over the years,” she said.

She expressed confidence in her ability to contribute to the organisation’s growth. “I am confident that I will play a key role in ensuring that the organisation grows, that it remains relevant within the market and that we remain on top of our game competitively.”

First days

Tjirare outlined her priorities for the first 90 days, noting the importance of understanding the organisation fully. “My key priorities are to fully acquaint myself with the organisation's strategic plan, learn the organisation culture, act deliberately because my employer has confidence in me, and build the trust of not just my bosses, but my colleagues at large.”

Her leadership principles will guide her work. “My sense of ethical conduct and integrity stands out. I am responsible and always hold myself and those around me accountable. I have strong and effective communication skills, and I remain humble at all times,” Tjirare explained.

Acknowledging potential challenges, she added, “Workforce challenges and skills gaps, managing a diverse and transient workforce, quality control, stress, fatigue and communication breakdowns may arise."

She added: "I intend on being flexible, navigating through challenges as they arise, and ensuring that OTESA maintains its competitive advantage, improves efficiency, and ensures customer satisfaction. 'IT CAN BE DONE' – that is my message to everyone.”