Govt for speedy enactment of Engineering Bill

Minister of Transport and Public Works Malison Ndau has assured engineers of speedy implementation of the Malawi Engineering Institution (MEI) Bill once it is enacted by Parliament to ensure sanity in the profession.

Speaking in an interview during the 16th Engineers’ Annual Lakeshore Conference in Mangochi on Friday, Ndau said the bill is almost ready, waiting for tabling during the November sitting of Parliament.

He said: “This is an important bill as it will regulate all players in the engineering profession. The bill will help us know their shortfalls and strengths, which will help us to provide relevant assistance.

“On my part as minister responsible for the engineering profession, I will ensure that the MEI Bill is passed in Parliament as soon as it is practically possible.”

Ndau said the bill will check issues of incompetence, negligence and unethical practices in the engineering profession.

The minister said while the country needs excellent performance and work of high quality among engineers, it is sometimes worrying to hear of unprofessional conduct by some engineers in the country.

“We would want to see engineers putting up a bureau to register all practising engineers to ensure that only those that are professionals get to practise and deserved promotions and not just any other engineer,” he said.

Malawi Institution of Engineers (MIE) president David Mzandu said in an interview it is pleasing that government is working towards passing the bill, adding that engineers have been waiting for the legislation.

He said the bill provides a legal framework within which engineers can mobilise and practise in an orderly manner.

“Currently, the Engineers’ Act does not recognise certain specialisations of the engineering profession, but this will be history once the bill is passed.

“We are aware and pleased that the bill has already been to the Cabinet Committee on Legal Affairs which looked at it and passed it on to Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs who are working on it.

“We are only hoping that they finalise the observations made by the committee in due course so that the bill is presented to Parliament this November as promised,” he said.

The annual engineers’ conference, which is organised by MIE, attracted about 250 local and international delegates.