President Hakainde Hichilema has challenged engineers to work with the Government towards driving the Country’s economic transformation agenda forward.
The President has called on engineers in the Country to set standards with quality innovations in order to bring about the best outcomes in infrastructure development.
He urged them to embrace partnerships in undertaking projects of great economic importance to the country in order to ensure quality and timely implementation.
The President was speaking when he officially opened the 29th Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIT) annual general meeting and symposium held at Avani Resort in Livingstone under the theme “Sustainable energy, smart mining, and regenerative agriculture for an innovative circular economy.”
Mr Hichilema cautioned the Engineering institution to give priority to the cost and outcome of the projects implemented to achieve quality works for the benefit of the Country.
“While the processes are important, there is a need to consider costs and outcomes to be more important to the implementation of projects undertaken,” he said.
He cited important projects such as energy, mining and roads infrastructure where engineers must take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Government.
He said the Government was ready to partner and enter into a strategic alliance with the engineering institution in supervising engineering works and the promotion of engineering skills, including those provided under the constituency development fund (CDF).
Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) President Wesley Kaluba said the institution has made strides such as construction of the first ever engineering centre of excellence situated in Kalumbila.
“This facility is earmarked to be a landmark facility that will act as a premier hub of research, universal state of art for skills and a sanctuary for home grain engineering initiatives for development “he said .
Mr Kaluba has also expressed concern over low compliance levels among the engineering profession in the Country contributing to poor outcomes contributing to shoddy works and service delivery.
He made an assurance that the EIZ was ready to partner with the Government in the development of infrastructure issues and bring about quality outcomes.
And moving a vote of thanks at the same symposium, Mr Baldwin Beene appreciated the Government’s support in the role of engineers in shaping the future of the Country.
Mr Beene said that this has set the tone, direction and standard for the national deliberations that development must be engineered while policies inspire progress sustainably and timely.
“The Government achievements in the national development agenda from increased copper production to resilience systems, smart agriculture and expansion of infrastructure provides both a challenge and opportunity to the engineering institution”, he said.
He said EIZ accepts the challenge and was ready to partner and work alongside with the Government in fostering the development agenda forward.
He further said the institution will uphold professionalism and standards, build resilient systems in the engineering circles towards national progress.
