By MOFFAT  CHAZINGWA-
THE Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) has assured of improved compliance levels within the engineering profession once the inspectorate wing is set up next year.
EIZ vice-president for membership and continuous professional development Stephen Simukanga said the institution was in the process of recruiting inspectors with the view to making the body more effective in enforcing compliance levels.
Prof Simukanga who is University of Zambia (UNZA) vice-chancellor said compliance levels within the engineering professional had been minimal and that this was largely because of lack of an inspectorate wing within the body to monitor adherence.
He said this in an interview on the sidelines of the EIZ career talk for pupils from various schools on the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces held at Kitwe’s Moba Hotel on Saturday.
The career talk programme sponsored by First Quantum Minerals (FQM), was aimed at inspiring young people to consider joining the engineering profession.
Prof Simukanga said under the EIZ 2010 Act of number 17, certain pillars had been introduced aimed at strengthening the engineering body including the development of an instrument for accreditation of all players in the profession.
“The act also provides for establishment of an inspectorate and by having inspectors, there will be making sure that all those in the engineering profession are compliant.
“The inspectorate will also be tasked with the responsibility of inspecting all engineering activities in the nation and will be empowered to all activities not within the required standards,” Prof Simukanga said.
When he addressed the pupils, Prof Simukanga said the importance of science and technology in national development could not be overemphasised.
He said it was a known fact that no nation could develop without science and technology, stressing that engineering played a prominent role in the development of the country.
“Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics disciplines are the heart beat of the modern world, leaving no field untouched, from agriculture to aviation,” he said.
Prof Simukanga said there was need to open young people’s eyes to what they could do with good stem skills.
He was convinced that for Zambia to develop, the nation needed a future generation that was passionate about, and skilled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
FQM Plant manager-hydrometallurgy Bravo Mbao said the company pumped in K75, 000 in the career talk programme because of the realisation that engineering was at the centre of all mining activities.