President Edgar Lungu has expressed disappointment with the performance of Engineers in Zambia.
President Lungu said the engineers have not performed to the level where they can redeem themselves from disappointments, like other professionals have done.
He said this today when a delegation from the Engineering Institute of Zambia paid a courtesy call on him at State House.
The Head of State emphasized that discipline is vital for any institution and profession to thrive.
He made reference to the Copperbelt University student’s riotous behaviour that has led to the closure of the institution today.
President Lungu pointed out that the step taken by Professor Nkandu Luo to close the institution is key in stilling the high level of discipline in learners.
Meanwhile, Engineering Institute of Zambia President Sydney Matamwandi pledged his firm support towards complimenting government’s efforts.
Mr Matamwandi explained that the engineers might have failed to fulfil their obligations in the past but have since reflected on their conduct and aim to improve.
He stated that President Edgar Lungu’s tenure of office has so far been the best in creating an enabling environment for the engineers to perform.
The EIZ President hailed President Lungu for accepting to grace their conference in Livingstone slated for April.26th and 27th 2019.
Zambia has 40,000 engineers, from which only 2000 are females.
kaya ba engineer ba pa Zed
You can say that again and again.
The presido needs to talk about he’s own mediocre performance, mostly engineers are not corrupt and inept as he has been.
ZAmbians have expressed disapointment in lungu.
“President Lungu pointed out that the step taken by Professor Nkandu Luo to close the institution is key in stilling the high level of discipline in learners.”
Mr Wynter Kabimba are you sure this is the guy you attended with at UNZA…this man talks as if he has never been on a university campus…
All the engineers I know in Zambia are Russian trained and heavy drinkers.
But exactly how have the engineers failed?
What matrices are being used?
In any case, Lungu should look at his own performance.
That’s because you are XXXX Princess and hang out in nightspots and PF gatherings when on holiday
The engineers it’s true. We just hear that they are engineers when they get drunk. So there it’s obvious. Now engineers don’t campaign & lie about what they will do for Zambians. So let’s rather look at Presidents of Zambia. What has he done. Just pocketing roads money
The problem I have seen with the engineers is they do things as if they know it all especially the Civil Engineers. How can a Civil Engineer prepare Architectural Drawings, Structural Drawings and Bills of Quantities? How can one profession be everything in Zambian Construction Industry (ZCI)? Then what will Structural Engineers or Quantity Surveyors or Architects be doing? EIZ has failed because of this unfortunately most Zambians have not taken time to understand this. SPECIALISATION IN ZCI IS KEY TO SOLVING THIS PROBLEM. Let’s start by understanding our roles as professionals in the ZCI.
“Mr Matamwandi explained that the engineers might have failed to fulfil their obligations in the past but have since reflected on their conduct and aim to improve.”
Surely where do you choose these clowns at EIZ and EAZ? This man Matamwandi has no shame ….
While Zesco is full of cadres this man is complaining about their performance. I know there are other kinds of engineers other than electrical, but you sir keep undermining them. You give contracts to Chinese leaving tour own people. Can you ask Trump how to make tour country first?
A lawyer who steals from a widow & takes bribes from Chinese has no right to talk about engineers.
Zambian engineers perform wonders in other countries, so something must be wrong with Zambian environment which prefers/rewards Chinese. Go to Botswana & RSA, UK, USA, Zambian engineers work speaks for itself.
Look who is shamelessly talking about others not performing well–clueless Lungu. This guy is the most clueless, most corrupt, most mediocre President Zambia ever had. And yet here he is, calling others non performers. He has presided over the most corrupt regime in the history of our beloved country, and will go down in history as the most corrupt and clueless President Zambia ever had. There’s terrible hunger in the country, no jobs, with civil servants going for months without pay, while this clueless guy comfortably flies around the country in luxury, laughing at the masses of suffering Zambians beneath his feet. The economic situation is getting worse in Zambia, and clueless Lungu cares not. If he was a CEO of a private company, they would’ve fired him a long time ago. But…
… thanks to his clueless supporters, there’s a chance that the nightmare may continue in 2021, and this guy may be mandated again to continue torturing Zambians with his corruption and mediocrity. What a shame.
Schopeti reporting. How does this next sentence tie in with engineers?
He made reference to the Copperbelt University student’s riotous behaviour that has led to the closure of the institution today.
Zambians too express disappointment with Lungu’s poor economy overburdened with debt,corruption and very low standards of living.We should engineer a change of government.
Watch “Imagine this was said under Lungu” on YouTube
Says the lazy guy who is contracting foreign companies like AVIC on GRZ funded projects!!
Jj its zambians engineers who awards contracts to foreign engineers.
Oval head
And why is GRZ watching ??
OVAL HEAD – Do you know how the Tender and Procurement Process works …where do Zambian engineers fit in handing out tenders or you mean a minister like Chitotela awarding his proxy company a contract he can not even do as he has no machinery only to sell the contract to AVIC.
Oval head. You clearly do not know what you are talking about. All big tenders are controlled by state house. We have very bright engineers but they are just failed by the government. Yes our engineers have flaws but there is NO political will to support their work
With due respect to the above statement from the outlined by the president.
I totally disagree, the same EIZ that visited the state house are the same people that have failed to lay done standards that need to motivate the same engineers the ruling government is pointing to.
And above all has the government itself taken any step to make the standards for the some engineers been undermined. How can a fully trained engineers be getting peanuts in some firm.
And the some engineers are not given opportunity to show case their innovative mind, Zambia is in this state because most engineers are given a lot of cash outside the country.
With all due respect to the statement would the government and the EIZ work together and standardize the engineering system of Zambia and all sectors…
I told you two days ago that this lazy bum will be flying out soon when he was in CB already he is going to Luapula again for 3 days tomorrow
Is that a problem to you. Majority zambians knows presidential itinerary 6 months in advance. Its not a secret anymore. This is one thing you should be grateful about ECL leadership because its transparent.
So you knew his itinerary even before ECZ announced the by election dates …you must be very daft..this is why you dont know the difference between hectares and acres I remember you now!!
How I feel sorry for husbands who have wives working at State House and accompanies him.. where their boss hardly spends a 24 hours with his wife at home or invites his wife on his tours but he is happy to spend 6 days out and about dancing like a foooooool
I’m equally disappointed as a Zambian, why don’t our educated university graduates take a leaf from our Zambian doctors who have performed highly in their trade.
I just wonder why we keep importing engineers to plan for our infrastructure if we have our own who are in hiding.
Let us talk of road infrastructure being done by our friends from China bridges and many more plans.
How about our own electrical engineers we are now talking of 40,000 dormant work force or highly skilled labour who cannot design anything to name only a few , has anything gone wrong some where if it is not working why not stop such trainings as it is not solving our problems .
People are sent to school because they are expected to solve problems if they can not why build a school for them .
The…
“…infrastructure being done by our friends from China bridges and many more plans….”
PF and lungus corruption. They get kickbacks from the Chinese for those contracts
For sure you are not Bemba
Have some people been to UNZA? I doubt. The language could have been different. What has closing of the UNZANDO got to do with lousy engineering. I don’t see any correlation here. Luo is just bitter with both Universities and interested in promoting her own universities through tuition fees and meal allowances grabbed from Unza and Copperbelt Unies.
This is a disaster!
And the same people go to Lusaka University and state that private schools are out-performing UNZA when a basic 3 year degree course is taking 6 years to complete..I mean how are even students supposed to get home if they are at CBU and come from Chipata and you have not paid their parents on time? These are heartless evil people…this Lungu can not wait to jump on the new $80million Gulf stream jet tomorrow to go to Luapula. He is like a kid who has received a new toy for his birthday…
Saviour,
Quote: “What has closing of the UNZANDO got to do with lousy engineering.” There is no such thing as UNZANDO! What are you talking about?
Ndiye bali nakasaka kandalama aba …..
Christopher Kang’ombe is an engineer and he ensured that he didn’t take you to the former Astra Cinema where the stench from human excreta is unbearable, it’s right in the City Center opposite Shoprite. It’s like Freedom Sikazwe wasn’t from Oxford bus station, he has forgotten his roots
How can our Engineers polish their skills when you have given all work to AVIC?
What is the connection between Engineering issues and the Emotional closure of CBU? And you think you have done the smart thing to close CBU? Behind those students are the parents and relatives you will be asking for votes from unless you have decided to vote for yourself. Don’t forget that Akasaka Kandalama Nakatulika!
Imagine how can a former UNZA student be talking about the govt instilling discipline on students by closing the school…silly retrogressive thinking
You can’t build a country without engineers. Zambia has spent on education at home and abroad, it’s time for these guys to impress us! No more falling bridges and buildings.
The collapsing bridges were done by Foreign contracted engineers who don’t understand our terrains!
We must change the mind of the black politician and make them accept themselves! As soon as the black man accepts and start believing in himself, he’ll solve his own problems!
Our politicians must be taken to task when they flout tender procedures with impunity! When did statehouse become the tender center? We allowed corruption to take root in state house when Sata moved RDA to state house! Has RDA ever been Audited?
The President has just called a spade a spade period. Every year Engineers go Livingstone and if you ask me what has ever come out of those vacations, nothing but confusion.
President Lungu shouldn’t even go and grace the so called EIZ conference until we start seeing these engineers producing quality results that benefit society.
You seriously think even countries in Europe would be where they are if big projects were done via EXIM Bank contracts with zero skills transfer..they two big road projects currently being done by foreigners the flyover bridge and the Ndola-Lusaka dual carriageway where do you think our engineers fit in when everything is done abroad…all the money leaves the country…you think if the Germans gave the autobahn contract they would have been where they are.
Wake from your docility!!
The Zambian-based Engineers really have nothing to show for their knowledge. The President is right. While Engineers in other countries spearhead Engineering innovations & resolve problems that affect society, the Engineers in Zambia are just Engineers by name.
Where in the contract do you give them an opportunity if you are handing a Design and Build contract to the foreign company …dont think like that utterly dull man Lazy Lungu who is eager to get on his plane and run away from problems!!
Benson Moono
Muletasha,just look at Zesco,there are hardly any expatriates there,the entire thing is run by Zambian engineers, it may have it’s flaws,but gentlemen give credit where it is due…
Shimwana – expert consultants are there in ZESCO, I say this as I know people who are in high end house estate letting market and they get a lot of them…go to Kariba you will find them.
All engineering tenders go to the Chinese or companies owned by a politician, we have bright engineers in Zambia who are being hindered by PFs policies during mwanawasa’s time engineers excelled in Zambia
Engineering education is hard and expensive. You do not e expect engineeers to do things for free if you have a broken toillet pay a plumber and he will make it good for you. You do not need an engineer. Engineers are thinkers. There is no calculus about toiket.
It’s good that those engines have agreed there failures .when I tried to use a toilet at the Cout next to central police I found drums of water and a packet to instead of flashing? Imagine toilet to be rocket science?
What’s your excuse as well… I mean you are in England and you are posting here as if you are talking to your friend in a Chibuku Tavern in Chainda Compound.
Charity begins at home. Most Zambians don’t appreciate the importance of a good Toilet. Most don’t have modern toilets at home. Only Pit Latrines everywhere.
Now take that mind and try to produce an Engineer. Even simple DIY plumbing for a modern toilet will be a problem. It’s all about inculcating good VALUES at toddler stage! Degrees without Values and basic social etiquette are useless!
Lungu the pot calling the kettle black .Bwana its under your watch that the Chinese have taken the Zambian engineering jobs building everything.
Engineers are the most affected professionals in pf government,especially those in Construction.Some are going for many months without pay, do you think they can perform well.
My view about engineers in Zambia. Probably, the engineers in the mines do good work because the employer would not keep non performing employees. State companies have over employed engineers and the majority are doing tradesman or technician jobs because there not many engineering work. On the other hand the president cannot be disappointed because of political interference. How many local contractors who have poorly paved roads jailed or told to repave at their own cost? It is not true that local contractors do not understand specifications as a reason to perform substandard. Bribery, corruption has led to substandard projects because institutions or inspectors are powerless to political heavy weights. So the president should strengthen institution by stopping political interference.
Iam one out of 40,000 but practice my engineering OVERSEAS how about that? Iam a failure? NO OTHERWISE i would be fired in the diaspora
Look at lungu flashing a $60,000 Rolex while civil servants are not getting paid….
Only an irresponsible parent would be flashing expensive lifestyle when the children school fees are not paid and there is no food in the home. When the children cry out to the father that they are hungry, the father gets annoyed and locks the kitchen and grabs school uniforms and books as a way to instil discipline. That is Chagwa for you!
Very strange way to govern. Is this not full-blown dictatorship where citizens can’t even talk without the risk of being threatened? This is where citizens rise and fight for their freedoms and rights! Prayer without Action is wishful thinking! Zambian must teach Chagwa a lesson in 2021!
My Fellow Engineers, I think this man has gone too far in his wayward talk! Let us make sure we are all registered to vote in 2021. He has insulted us enough. In fact, the best punishment we can give him is to vote for the person he hates most, the person he thinks can never be president as if he is God! He forgets that Zambia is a Democracy and it’s us the people who choose leaders! We are fed up with your visionless and senseless rule ba Pompwe imwe, ba mwibila nsala, bamukukulu, who only want to live an expensive life at the expense of suffering poor citizens! Mulekwatako insoni!
I am hurt by your continued insults to us Local Engineers! When did you empower us to prove that we are not up to our calling? You have given all engineering projects to China and India not because Zambian Engineers are bad but because of Ukusheta Mwibala through kick backs!
We have heard you. Come 2021, don’t expect to get our votes! We’ll make sure that Bombasa Yapona mu 2021! Enough is Enough!
.. This Engineer story is just a way of justifying bringing in “Engineers” from China to come run the show at ZNBC and Zesco…..we shouldn’t be this dumb….you know why Engineers have let you down??? The answer lies within you Mr. President… You borrow money from China who then give you conditions of awarding Contracts to their own, who believe me have below par Engineering brains…but since they are white and owners of the cash our very own Zambian Engineer loses pride and can’t flex their knowledge muscles because they will be misquoted and fired by your inner circle PF stooges… Because the economy is tough and job market tight…a poor engineer retreats….but when bridges collapse he still gets the heat…the blame and shame…. But what if you say lawyers are liars and…
…. and crooked, they have let us down would it be correct??? Maybe, but I think good upright lawyers can be found, and so I still believe good and very bright Engineers are there…its just the environment in which they operate is very fragile, vulnerable and intimidating…….lack of recognition and support of this field is what we lack…..science in general pa zed has been neglected… And no country ever developed without advancement in engineering and technology…..
40,000 engineers in Zambia? Or should it be 4,000? The number is too big. There are about 1060 registered lawyers in Zambia and maybe about 2000 doctors but why the oversupply of engineers? Kenya has a larger population with only 6000 engineers. Why is Zambia so ‘blessed’ with engineers, no wonder things do not work, they are over engineering.
Engineering covers a wide spectrum including Political engineering, feck Engineering, etc. That is why the number is big.
….. Matamwandi, you failed to point out that “good” lawyers drafted and signed a defective Constitution, with disastrous consquences for the country. Not to mention the billions of kwacha to be spent re-doing the whole process all over again from A to Z.
Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black.
And I am counting, first EAZ turned into party cadres, next EIZ, please please leave the doctors’ “EAZ” out of this…… kikikikikikikiki
……. by the way, I am not a trib.al, just an innocent citizen calling a spade a spade……. kikikikikiki.
And I hope that it’s not defamation …kikikikikikiki ….
Repeat: I am not a trib.al …kikikkkiki
There are no engines in Zambia to support Engineers.
Why is there a sudden onslaught on Engineers all of a sudden from the President? I would appreciate if the president was specific to the failures of Zambian Engineers. As it stands, in last 7 years 90% of all Engineering Projects are being done by Chinese with their own Chinese Engineers at the expense of Zambian Engineers. The professionalism of local Zambian Engineers is being liquidated under the watchful eyes of the PF Government, effectively giving advantage to foreigners. The President need to seek Audience with all engineering institutions and get feedback privately. He probably does not know that all Zambian Engineering firms are have not been paid on average for over 12 months, when Chinese firms get remunerated frequently. In this scenario, do you expect good performance…
Show me one product that Zambian Engineers have designed and engineered. Fake engineers all over!!!
Zolo engineers fo not make things for free. If you are an entreprenure think of a profuct snd employ engineers. How far have you gone in education? You want free products from enginerrs?