In early August this year, Tanzania’s Engineers Registration Board (ERB) organized the 6th Annual Engineers’ Day (AED). The event was graced by the attendance of His Excellency President Jakaya Kikwete for the first time since he came in power in 2005. President Kikwete who joined the celebrations on its second day, is also the patron of engineering fraternity in the country. This is the most important forum for engineers in the country since it came into being in 2003. The main purpose of AED is to avail the opportunities to engineers so that they exchange experiences through discussions in a learned discourse, exhibit engineering related products and services to the public, as well as present awards to best final year engineering students who excel in their studies.
This is a stand alone placard for the Engineers’ Registration Board (ERB) which had a significant message to engineers and people who attended the 6th Engineers’ Day “Utilize engineers for quality product and value for money”. This placard was placed by the door to a conference hall at Kundichi Breach Hotel and Resort.This is a memorable occasion for engineering community in Tanzania and one objective of the ERB is to build the capacity of both emerging and existing engineering firms in the country. Each year a theme is selected to guide the celebrations and in particular, the learned discourse, depending on the major engineering challenges facing the nation in realizing its major development concepts. The occasion, which is one of the Board’s greatest achievements was held in two days consecutively. For this year’s occasion the theme was “Infrastructure as a social-Economic tool for development opportunities and challenges”. Addressing the occasion on its second day, President Kikwete challenged stakeholders to produce more engineers who would help to cope with the country’s development needs and targets. He said “Tanzania can produce 1,000 engineers every year”. It had earlier been learnt that Tanzania produces 500 engineers annually. He underscored the importance of investing in education especially after allocating the highest ministerial budget to the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training.
By 09:00 o’clock the Minister for Infrastructure Development Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa was already in the hall for official opening. He is seen flanked by some ERB Board members.The Minister for Infrastructure, Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa who is also an engineer by profession graced a two-day event that took place at Kunduchi Beach Hotel & Resort on the outskirts of the city as a guest of honour. It was his first time to have attended this big engineering occasion in his capacity and the ERB Board was highly proud to have a Minister who is an engineer by profession. In his key note address to the participants, the Minister said that, the realization of aspirations of the country’s vision 2025 will depend on the professional roles played by engineers bearing in mind that there is no development program in that vision that does not require engineering inputs. Bearing in mind that construction as well as rehabilitation of infrastructure system is very expensive such as roads, railways and Telecommunications towers, thus the importance of using available financial resources cannot be taken away. The role of building infrastructure is to promote and facilitate socio-economic development activities. This notion is widely understood by the majority of the people, hence it also pave the way for investment potentials in the country. According to the Minister, the road infrastructure in the country is by far the most predominant mode of transport in the country. Like transport infrastructure in general, the road network system is still characterized by high cost, low quality of service due to the existence of massive backlog of infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation.
The Minister for Infrastructure Development Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa delivering his opening speech to delegates (Engineers) during the celebrations. Dr. Kawambwa who is also an Engineer, thanked the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam Professor Mathew Luhanga for his contribution to the engineering community in Tanzania. He told delegates that, Professor Luhanga was the former deal of faculty of the electrical engineering dept by the time he was doing his undergraduate studies at the University of Dar es Salaam. Professor was also among the invited guests.
Professor Mathew Luhanga was among the invited guests, his presence had a gloomy aspect of it as most middle aged engineers and some high ranking government officials in the country have acquired engineering knowledge from him. Road transport plays a vital role in the movement of goods and passengers. It accounts for over 70 percent of the total freight and transport over 90 percent of passengers with the balance carried mainly by railways, airways and waterways. According to him, transport system in Tanzania comprises a road network of approximately 85,541 km and out of these, a total of 28,576 km is trunk roads that links upcountry regions which are executed by TANROADS. The works on these roads depends on the availability of effective working implements including money for their maintenance. Up to 2007, most Tanzanian roads especially those connecting regional headquarters had in good condition up to 48 percent, while those in a moderate condition had up to 37 percent. According to the Minister, this means that 15 percent of all roads were in extremely bad condition and therefore, intensive maintenance is urgently required for them. The challenge here is to let engineers work effectively to ward off the existing problems. However, he urged them to strive with more efforts in order to let those areas with impassable roads to be passable in the near future at all costs. On the development of ICT and their application, the minister noted that, phone users had increased in the country by 12 percent in recent years. Therefore for the importance of this sector, the government has enhanced the ICT technology by using special fiber optics.
A Cross section of over 800 engineers who attended the celebrations as they are keen listening to the Minister’s speech.On electricity production, Tanzania still depends largely on the hydro-electric power and about 60 percent of the power supply is produced through national grid while the remaining amount is being produced by using an extra amount of electricity from gas and coal. Experience has shown that, the dependency on one source of electricity generation is too dangerous and in order to extend these sources, there is a great need to increase the level of electricity production by using extra means of production whatsoever, the minister noted in his speech. He therefore urged the ERB Board to work in close cooperation with the Contractors’ Registration Board (CRB) in the country to make sure that there is a proper working system whereby contractors and engineers have full professional background before executing their jobs. The minister is on the view of the fact that many are not professionally trained an aspect that results into dubious and shoddy construction. The Chairman of ERB Professor Ninatubu .M. Lema noted while addressing participants that the construction industry grows faster than before. According to him, actors in the engineering industry are extremely busy in reshaping towns, cities and the country at large. Despite the fact that the industry gets a number of projects in the local market, there is a need to build capacity to local engineers in order to ensure efficiency and quality. According to him, there are limited financial resources to the industry and this is mainly due to various constraints in financial institutions. ERB is looking forward to building capacity and empowering local contractors to undertake much larger projects inside and outside the country.
First Deputy Governor with the Bank of Tanzania Dr. Enos Bukuku delivering his speech during the occasion.Construction sector is one of the industries that employs a large number of job seekers. In a key note address by Dr. Enos Bukuku, first Deputy Governor with the Bank of Tanzania, during the official opening of the occasion said that, building national capacity for infrastructure can be viewed from more that one angle. He said that there is the issue of financial capacity that can be addressed via budgetary allocations via soft loans or via issuance of infrastructure bonds. Dr. Bukuku underscores that the issue of technical capacity to build roads, dams, railways, air-ports and habours cannot be taken for granted in the processing of building capacity for infrastructure development. There is a need for taking some decisive steps and measures to nurture and facilitate the growth and development of reputable local contractors with the requisite professional skill but lack of capital and technology are the major constraints. However, he said adding that, Tanzania needs to promote trade and investment as well as the need to promote openness, connectivity and integration demands more innovative ways.
ERB Registrar, Engineer Steven Mlote delivering his speech during the occasion.On his part the ERB Registrar, Engineer Steven Mlote said that his Board has put forward the Structured Engineers Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) as well as Continuing Professional Development Courses (CPC) so as to keep abreast with regular trainings in order to provide opportunities for engineers in the country. To achieve engineering excellence, the ERB Board has put emphasis as its main strategy, to implement both training courses for the betterment of the engineering community in the country. SEAP and CPD, the two are intensive training programs for practicing engineers in the country. The board hitherto considers these programmes as mandatory to all practicing engineers in the country. Among the most important roles being played by ERB is to ensure excellent work performances by engineers along with adherence to the laid-down norms and regulations, registration and implementation of control mechanism to ensure that the end products are well done and safe. ERB Board is one of the most important and the oldest Boards in the history of the construction industry in Tanzania. It’s a statutory body founded in 1968 and later re-established under the Engineers’ Registration Act No. 115 of 1997. The Board is responsible for monitoring and regulating the conduct of engineering practice in Tanzania, regulating engineering activities so as to enhance and strengthen the professional competence of engineers and engineering consulting firms in the country. Hitherto, the board has registered 8,055 engineers in the country. The move to split was vital because prior to ERB Act amendment, the earlier Board included other professions such as Quantity Surveyors and Architects in its fold. Since the operation of the latter two distinct professions differed from engineering, and that engineering is indeed a wide discipline, there was a need to cater for only engineering professionals to increase their efficiency and cut on possible clumsiness and duplication of work. To implement its mandate, the Board has the capacity to screen, generate and effect engineering applications as well as offer solutions to engineering-related problems. It is the engineers who conduct research on design, manage operations, maintain and repair structures, machines, plants and equipment.
Former ERB Chairman Professor Burton Mwamila exchanging some views with other stakeholders during the occasion. Professor Mwamila is among the architects of this important engineers’ gathering in the country. To run all these functions smoothly, the Board resolved to dedicate a special day each year in order to put in memory engineers’ activities after having appreciated the importance of the engineering work in Tanzania. The idea originates from the Board’s desire to have a special forum that would stimulate and motivate local engineers in Tanzania to showcase to the general public and other stakeholders in the engineering sector what they can accomplish towards national development. According to Engineer Mlote, the purpose of introducing the Annual Engineers’ Day in Tanzania was to provide an opportunity for engineers to interact, exchange professional experiences so as to reinforce their role in stimulating and spearheading the socio-economic development. Other objectives were as follows down here, to recognize engineers’ companies and organizations that contributes to a greater extent the engineering profession for the country’s development. To encourage Tanzanian engineering students who pursue engineering professional studies from various higher learning institutions accredited in the country, and also award the best performing students in every engineering professional levels. To entice Tanzanian youths especially those in secondary schools to become more interested to join with the engineering profession. To enable the general public to recognise precise contribution issued by Tanzanian engineers in all levels of disciplines To enable the engineering community to show up to the general public what Tanzanian engineers can do for the sake of our country in terms of economic development, this is by way of exhibition done by training institutions, research institutes, consultancy and engineering firms. To enable engineers’ employers as well as users of engineering services in a bid to fid out the ability of the indigenous engineers and their consulting firms.
This is the entrance leading to the conference hall at Kunduchi Beach Hotel.The occasion is greatly honoured as an achievement of the Board while engineers make use of the event to chart out strategies that would enable them to excel on matters of national significance. The essence of the AED and the activities that goes alongside it is of great significance not only to engineers but also to the wider Tanzanian community.
Through AED the board is able to update the government about engineers’ problems in their various activities and vice versa. The feedback the board receives from participants gives it an impetus in deciding the way forward. Furthermore, the AED being an annual event is meant to provide a forum for recognizing engineers who perform exemplarily in their various undertakings and thereafter the board confers awards to different categories of performances and promotions of the aspects of academic, research and development, consulting and contracting, and manufacturing service industry. Other activities in the event include learned discourses, technical and commercial exhibitions conducted by various engineering firms. The Board’s performance report for the past year, status report on the Structured Engineers Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) along with the status report of implementation of the board’s strategic action plan are presented. SEAP report made available by the Board this year shows that a total of 1,050 engineers have benefited from this program which h is currently financed by the government and are fit for their work wherever appropriate, and have also enough experience.
The Minister for Infrastructure Development Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa as a guest of honour presented awards of excellence to University students who excelled in their final engineering exams from various higher learning institutions. Here he is seen giving an award of certificate to Engineer Amin Mzava of the UDSM who excelled in his exams for the academic year 2007/08 in Computer Engineering with Information Technology. Engineer Amin is currently working with COWI Consultants based in the city. SEAP is therefore intended to ensure that trainee engineers are equipped adequately so that they pursue their professional careers with precision and confidence. This is in accordance with the key areas of the new amendment Act No. 24 of 2008 of the Board that envisage planning, arranging, coordinating and overseeing the professional training of local graduate engineers. The Board collaborates with the Tanzania Commission for Universities and other relevant institutions on the accreditation of engineers for training of engineers. The new Act recognizes that technicians in engineering are important ingredients in the performance of engineers and the development of construction industry. Outlining the main achievements of the Board since its re-establishment in 1997, Eng. Mlote noted that, in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007 respectively, his Board carried its work in all Tanzania’s mainland town councils and helped increased the ability of engineers through SEAP training. Scores of professional engineers in towns and in various district councils in the country have increased from 53 in 2002 to 206 in 2007, and 22 technical engineers have increased up to 53 from the same year up to 2007.
Augustine Alexander, as she is called, is a lady who excelled in her Civil Engineering Exams from the UDSM civil engineering dept was also among the awardees who became the best performing student for the academic year 2007/2008.According to him, 54 graduate engineers have increased to 249 in 2006 an aspect which has made most councils in the country to have a total of 508 engineers as up to 2007 compared to 129 in 2002. However, it’s evident that engineering situation in these councils is now better than before, and the Board anticipates good performance in future, this is together with the construction of important infrastructure such as roads, water, electricity etc. The Board is striving hard to get all engineers trained under this program, but lack of enough budget for SEAP training courses is a great impediment. According to him, it’s only 22 percent of the whole budget. Other activities the Board contends with includes, site inspection in all construction projects including in all big mining sites in the country. The essence of doing this is to ensure that foreign engineers who are employed to carry on these activities in these project sites have enough experience and skills and furthermore they must be registered by the Board. The Board has helped 263 engineers to get employment and 109 employers have managed to get competent professional engineers of various disciplines, this is after linking with the Board which has for long been establishing a link with employers in terms of working tom ensure good professionalism. The main challenges facing the engineering profession in the country is that many engineers shun this profession and joins other professional fields for reasons that it is not paying well, bearing in mind that engineering studies are very tough to understand.
Professor Burton Mwamila in a te-etee with one of the stakeholders outside the conference hall. This was breakfast time.Many Tanzanian students do not want to undergo engineering studies on the claims that the content subjects taught are very tough and if successfully completed their benefits are too little compared to other professional jobs. Most engineering firms are reluctant to use professional designers or engineers and instead use unprofessional people who have less knowledge of engineering profession for reasons that the professional bodies are more expensive. Either they use a trick of consulting professional bodies and put on their names on the sign boards at their construction sites on the pretext that are the ones who does the job whereas is not. However, Eng. Mlote said in his speech, and assured 0participants that is what happens in some of the high rise buildings undergoing construction in some towns in the country. However, he urge that, in order to curb the escalating habit which is a challenge, the Board has laid down strategic means of doing site audits, the work that it does in collaboration with other Boards so as to net the culprits. The audit works involves also to find if such sites have enough workers with professional experience on their projects and scrutinize all workers carrying the activities in various industries to see if they have the ability to supervise such construction projects. In view of this, in order to avoid shoddy construction Eng. Mlote urged fellow engineers to be trustworthy, innovative and work with strong commitments to better quality work and the value of money as directed in the code of conduct and ethics of engineers. However, he said that the habit would restore engineers’ dignity and trust to the community and assured all engineers that his Board would strictly follow the laws and rules to ensure that engineering profession is not disregarded ion any way. As he read his speech which was prepared in Kiswahili language, the registrar has also emphasized on various steps that should be taken by the government in order to enhance the remunerations of the engineering professionals and that measures should be taken to improve their working environment in the country. He also assured the participants that in order to strengthen the need for quality engineering work in the country, his Board would arrange consultancy firms which would be divided in three categories in order to facilitate the effective implementation of their day to day’s activities.
ERB invited few people from outside the country to celebrate together and exchange views, among them was a Registrar of Kenya’s Engineers’ Registration Board, Engineer Michael Kamau. Engineer Kamau is also the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Roads of the Republic of Kenya. He was among the distinguished guests who graced the occasion. He is seen saluting Tanzanian engineering community members during the occasion. Among the significant points he noted was a bilateral cooperation that the East African Countries needs in order to build a firm infrastructural facilities for these countries’ economic development.This year’s engineers’ day drew participants from all corners of the country signifying that ERB is now able to reach out to all engineers in the country. ERB also invited few participants from the Republic of Kenya, among them was the Chairman of the Kenya’s Engineers Registration Board who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Roads. Engineer Michael Kamau. According to ERB Board, it’s clear to engineers that the engineering community in Tanzania is a working brigade for stimulating and spearheading socio-economic development in the country. In his message to Tanzanian engineering community, Mr. Kamau said that the cooperation in between Tanzania and Kenya must be focused on every areas of cooperation, the peer mechanism is hereby in between the two countries. He said that almost US$ 1bn is disbursed by his government in collaboration with donor partners to build the most required infrastructural activities in the counrtry. He therefore asked Tanzanian engineers to go to his country and work for the benefit of the East African Community.
