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President Hakainde Hichilema has tasked engineers in Zambia to assist government in finding solutions to floods and channel the water for the benefit of the nation.
Hichilema said government was concerned with effects and impact of climate change that had seen floods in Lusaka and damaged bridges across the country.
He said this in a speech read for him by Vice President W.K Mutale Nalumango during the official opening on 66th Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) Annual Symposium held at Avani Victoria Falls Resort on Thursday.
“Engineers should help us to find solutions to these floods and channel this water for the benefit of the nation. As a country we cannot develop without your involvement as engineers,” Hichilema said.
Read more: Private sector urged to assist flash floods victims
He indicated that government believed in the ability of Zambians in finding solutions to the challenges that the country was faced with.
At the same function, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Charles Milupi, called on engineers in the country to take up private sector participation in the construction sector.
Milupi said that government had always been encouraging the enhancement of public private participation in the development of the country.
He said that there was more to be done that required the engineers’ participation in the development of the country as entrenched by the government.
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“Engineers have the ability to contribute to any country’s development and that is why my ministry wants more collaboration with engineers. Engineering profession requires highly intelligent people to develop the country,” he said.
“I challenge engineers in the country to make a difference. I am happy that the Institution has played a role in the development of the country. The Institution has helped the government to lower the road construction costs,” he said.
In response, Engineers Institution of Zambia (EIZ) appealed to government to consider the creating an office of the Engineer General as a way of appreciating the role engineers played in the country.
Engineering Institution of Zambia president, Abel Ng’andu speaking at the conference in Livingstone on Thursday.
EIZ president, Abel Ng’andu, observed that the creation of the engineer’s general would promote the active collaboration between the government the Institution.
Ng’andu president that the issue of the creation of the engineer general has been a standing issue for a very long time.
He was hopeful that with the presence of engineers in the Cabinet, the creation of the office of the Engineer General will come into fruition and the ministers will promote support this cause.
“We also appeal to the government to always involve and inform EIZ of any engineering project that is taking place in the country.
“It was unfortunate that the Institution is always informed of engineering projects when their engineering failure,” he said.
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