Engineers regulatory body on the cards

ECZ is a statutory body established through an Act of Parliament to regulate members of the engineering profession in the country.

Against this background, any person practising engineering work or wishing to do the same in Zimbabwe is required by the Engineering Council Act Chapter 27:22 and Statutory Instrument 161 of 2010 to register with the ECZ.

In an interview, ECZ chief executive officer Engineer Ben Rafemoyo said the formation of the legal and inspectorate departments would improve the council’s capacity to deal with elements of misconduct and poor workmanship standards in the profession.

“The council is working on establishing the inspectorate and legal departments to enforce engineers and technicians operating within Zimbabwe to regularise their operations. We have observed that of late some of the engineers and technicians are not registered with the council while others have shown poor workmanship in the execution of their jobs. It has also been noted that some of the accidents at workplaces are a result of poor workmanship on the part of engineers and technicians,” he said.

Prior to the economic meltdown, Zimbabwe had 3 000 registered engineers and technicians adding that because some of them left for greener pastures the council’s membership was under 600.

“Before the economic slump the country had up to 3 000 engineers and technicians and because some left for greener pastures their number is just under 600. As a council, we also believe that there are some who are operating without being registered,” said Eng Rafemoyo.

He added that it was a crime for engineers and technicians to operate within Zimbabwe without a practising certificate from the ECZ.

“We need the inspectorate department to inspect the engineers and technicians to establish that they are bonafide. Even the foreigners that will come to practise within Zimbabwe they need to get registered within the council. Stern measures like deportations will be taken where they will be found wanting and we urge employers that it is a crime to employ an unregistered engineer.”

He said through hired legal experts the council was handling cases where three companies were alleged to have demonstrated poor workmanship resulting in workplace accidents.

Eng Rafemoyo would not be drawn into revealing names of the engineering firms pending the conclusion of the investigations.

ECZ has the statutory powers to deregister any players that would show an act of misconduct in the execution of their jobs.

The Engineering Council Act, which provides for the establishment of the ECZ, was enacted in 2007 to set the provision for the formation of a body responsible for the registration of engineers and engineering technicians and regulation of their practice in Zimbabwe.

The council also has powers to caution, fine, or suspend the engineers for misconduct or gross incompetence.