Online Reporter
Oliver Kazunga
Senior Business Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN engineers are increasingly asserting their role in shaping sustainable development at national and global levels, aligning Vision 2030 priorities with the international agenda advanced through World Engineering Day (WED).
Observed annually on March 4, World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development is a UNESCO-proclaimed global observance that underscores the critical role of engineering in accelerating economic growth, strengthening infrastructure, enhancing climate resilience and driving technological innovation.
This year, the global spotlight shifts to Jakarta, Indonesia, where flagship WED celebrations will be held from March 3 to 5 under the theme “Smart Engineering for a Sustainable Future Through Innovation and Digitalisation.”
Zimbabwe will be strongly represented, reflecting the country’s growing recognition as a contributor to global engineering solutions.
World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) vice president Dr Martin Manuhwa and his local counterparts that include Engineering Council of Zimbabwe (ECZ) chairperson Dr Loice Gudukeya, Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE) president Prof William Goriwondo, ECZ chief executive officer Engineer Ben Rafemoyo, and ZIE chief executive Dr Sanzan Diarra have been invited to attend the event.
Responding to written questions, Dr Manuhwa said Zimbabwe’s growing presence at WED signals a shift from policy ambition to delivery.
“It positions engineering as a central pillar of national development, investment confidence, and sustainable infrastructure.”
“Vision 2030 is ultimately an engineering agenda. Roads, power, water, industry and digital systems are what turn economic policy into measurable growth,” he said.
Dr Manuhwa added that smart engineering and digitalisation will have the greatest impact in energy, mining, agriculture, transport, manufacturing and public services — sectors where efficiency, reliability and data-driven decision-making directly raise productivity.
“Zimbabwe is strengthening the competitiveness of its engineers through skills upgrading, standards alignment, professional regulation, and increased global exposure — ensuring local expertise can compete and collaborate internationally.”
Proclaimed by UNESCO in 2019 and coordinated by the, WED promotes the contribution of engineers to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which closely align with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 objective of attaining upper middle-income status.
Through ECZ and ZIE, engineering is being positioned as a national strategic enabler of industrialisation, infrastructure modernisation and innovation-led economic transformation. Key national priorities — including energy security, water and sanitation, transport systems, digitalisation and climate-smart development — remain central to this agenda.
In a separate interview Dr Diarra said: “Engineering is the foundation of every economy around the world.
“It plays a vital role in national development by enabling infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings, transportation systems, energy supply, and technology.
“A clear example is China, which has become a global leader in infrastructure development through strong investment in engineering.”
Resultantly, many political leaders now recognise that engineering knowledge is essential for planning and developing their countries.
“As a country, we support this growth by developing our local engineers through professional development programmes, ensuring they have the skills and expertise needed to drive sustainable development,” said Dr Diarra.
In a significant milestone, for the first time since the inception of WED, Zimbabwe has been invited to provide three judges for the prestigious WED 2026 Hackathon.
The hackathon promotes practical, solution-driven innovations that address real-world challenges.
The three judges are Prof Tawanda Mushiri, Dr Willie Ganda and Dr Dennis Magaya.
Zimbabwe’s rising global profile is further reinforced by WFEO vice president Dr Martin Manuhwa, who will speak as a distinguished panellist on “Smart Engineering for Sustainable Infrastructure”.
His participation highlights Zimbabwe’s growing influence in regional and global engineering discourse.
As the global engineering community convenes in Jakarta, Zimbabwe will be among the nations helping to shape a sustainable future through innovation aligned with national development priorities.
