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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
PRESIDENT Mugabe, who is the African Union chairperson, yesterday said the infrastructure gap on the continent was hindering economic growth. In a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa while officially opening the 2nd Unesco Africa Engineering Week here, President Mugabe said Africa cannot achieve the desired economic turnaround without addressing the demand for infrastructure provision. “The infrastructure provision gap in most economies in Africa has become so pronounced to such an extent that it has become the biggest drawback to development,” said President Mugabe.
“In this instance, we are talking of lack of clean water, roads and railway infrastructure, telecommunication systems and energy to name but a few. Africa can’t achieve the desired economic turnaround without addressing the high demand for infrastructure provision.”
The week-long conference, which drew participants from across the engineering fraternity in Zimbabwe and on the continent, started on Monday and ends tomorrow. It is being held under the theme “Engineering Innovation for Accelerated Infrastructure Development for Africa, Post 2015” which President Mugabe said was encouraging especially looking at Zimbabwe’s economic blueprint Zim-Asset.
He said the government was looking for cooperation and partnerships with engineers to provide solutions to challenges facing the country. “My government is running with an economic blueprint Zim-Asset and we need to join hands with you engineers to translate some of the broad strategies to provide solutions to various human challenges faced by our people. Engineering contributes enormously to every country’s economic growth,” he said.
“Without access to engineering products and services, any country’s economy would likely grind to a halt. The engineering fraternity has the responsibility to improve the life of citizens across Africa.” President Mugabe said it was mind boggling that despite the presence of innovative and creative engineers and technicians, Africa with all its vast resources, is still importing technology and finished products from developed countries. “I’m hopeful that after events like this one, we will see a major shift by our engineers from being experts in maintaining imported machinery and equipment to innovators, inventors and manufacturers of the same,” President Mugabe said.
Africa has a critical shortage of engineers with a ratio of 1:10,000 people while in Zimbabwe the ratio is 1:6,500 people. Brazil has a ratio of 1:227 people, while Germany has a ratio of 1:250 people. President Mugabe said the world was now preparing for the future through training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The conference programme included exhibitions by pupils from Zimbabwean and Zambian schools who are taking part in a bridge making competition, while imitating construction of the 95-year-old Victoria Falls Bridge.
President Mugabe hailed the inclusion of pupils in the programme saying that would guide them into being engineers for the good of their countries. He said engineers had a critical role to play in the development of the continent. “Engineering is a partner in the development of innovative infrastructure projects in the country because engineering has the ability to change landscape of any country. To this end my government has put in place laws and policies that enable capacity building of local engineers by ensuring that they take part in projects taking place in the country as equal partners,” said President Mugabe.
He said the 21st Century was driven by excellence in science, engineering and innovation.
The President implored engineers to take heed of the resolutions of the Sadc Heads of State summit held here in April this year which approved two major strategies for industrialisation and adopted a development plan. VP Mnangagwa was accompanied by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Higher and Tertiary, Science and Technology Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo and former Minister Herbert Murerwa who is now Zesa Board chairperson.
Prof Moyo said his ministry would strive to achieve STEM goals for the betterment of the country. Minister Kasukuwere challenged engineers to “be part of the global crusade” towards developing their economies. He bemoaned corrupt tendencies in the sector, saying his ministry will work closely with line ministries to fight graft.
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