Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
President Hakainde Hichilema has warned that the new dawn administration will not condone any professional misconduct that seeks to plunder on public resources by various engineering professionals in the implementation of government projects.
President Hichilema says engineers are partly responsible for some of the pressing national challenges like huge debt because they are the ones who were approving sub-standard and overpriced government infrastructure projects which they got away with.
The Head Of State was speaking in a speech read on his behalf by minister of infrastructure, housing and urban development Engineer Charles Milupi during the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) 2022 annual general meeting, annual symposium, 4th annual women in engineering conference and youth engineers’ forum in Livingstone.
He has observed that e-i-z has not done anything to take corrective measures on the engineers who were involved in approving such government projects when they are members of the professional body of engineers.
President Hichilema says government recognizes the contributions of EIZ over the years to the development of Zambia’s socio-economic development and is calling on engineering professionals to do more in helping to address some of the challenges including in the energy, health, climate change and all other sectors.
Speaking at the same event, minister of green economy and environment engineer Collins Nzovu has charged that engineers are partly responsible for the triple planetary crisis of climate change, bio-diversity and nature loss and pollution due to their works which are often in good faith.
Engineer Nzovu says the various engineering challenges require engineering based solutions and has asked the engineers to up their game in contributing to government’s resolve of transitioning towards a green economy where natural resources are sustainably exploited.
Speaking earlier on, EIZ President Engineer Abel Ng’andu says EIZ is grateful to the new dawn government for ensuring that engineering professionals are part of the highest decision making positions and engaging engineers in national development and planning.