Engineers in the country have made several recommendations in a bid to improve their profession, emphasising on the formation of their own board with powers to penalise.
Prof Ninatubu Lema
The Engineers Registration Board (ERB) Chairman, Prof Ninatubu Lema, who read the recommendations and resolutions reached in a two-day seminar to mark 11th Annual Engineers’ Day over the weekend, said that such a board should also oversee issues related to competence in engineering.
“We have agreed that all registered engineers should take oath, committing them to abide with codes of conduct, but we should also go an extra mile in ensuring that we have in place a board that will oversee issues related to competence and also impose sanctions and punishments in case of misconduct,” he said.
The meeting which brought together 1 200 engineers also challenged young engineers to change their mind sets, act proactive and show high commitment in doing their work.
“Some of us who are still teaching in various colleges, have witnessed that fresh graduates and those still studying are not giving this profession due respect and as a result, they are putting the future in jeopardy,” he said.
He added that engineers should at all times be punctual, efficient and keen in time management. The engineers also urged institutions to invest highly in targeted trainings in areas where the country still lacks enough skilled labour.
“Local universities should build capacity in training engineers on gas economy and in other sectors where we are still lagging behind,” he said.
They also asked the government to support them in the formation of strong joint ventures so as to strengthen local capacities in competing with foreign firms.
“ERB has also been challenged to help engineers earn recognition beyond the country’s boarders as a way of achieving the globalisation objectives,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Eng Musa Iyombi, assured the engineers that all the deliberations and recommendations will be worked upon.
“Recommendations and deliberations will be worked upon by my office and those that need higher authorities will be forwarded to relevant offices, but I assure you that we will respond to all concerns,” he said.
He challenged engineers to put much emphasis on self employment as the number of engineers keeps on increasing creating a possibility of unemployment boom.
Currently, there are 13,000 registered engineers in the country. Mr Iyombi reiterated on the need to have all engineers taking oath within a year as ordered by Minister Dr John Magufuli, saying that he would love to be among the first to take the oath.
Dr Magufuli on Thursday ordered all 13,000 registered engineers to take oath within a year in a move designed to enhance credibility, accountability and diligence in the profession.
He gave the order shortly after a first batch of 50 registered engineers took oath in front of over 1000 invited engineers.
That was the first time members of the fraternity took oath publicly “I congratulate the ERB (Engineers Registration Board) for introducing this oath; it is a nice move as it brings fear of God in professional practices.
I also order this oath to be taken by all 13,000 registered engineers in one year’s time from now,” he said.
By ABDULWAKIL SAIBOKO, Tanzania Daily News
