EIZ stirs to life
THE Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) has launched the 2019-2023 Strategic Plan and Mentorship Programme that is aimed at promoting and regulating professional development, among others. Former secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska said it was time for EIZ to start setting standards for supporting good services that might be required during construction and operation of the nuclear installations. Dr Msiska said that strategic thinking was about matching the continuous changing environment with the values and resources with a view of achieving stretched goals. Speaking when he officially launched the plan at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre yesterday, Dr Msiska said it was important for EIZ to ensure that the documents launched reflected the understanding of the firm and those it was working with. He said that EIZ had a critical role to play in the country and was convinced that it was operating at 5 percent of what it was supposed to be operating at. "After 50 years of independence, we still are predominantly an exporter of raw materials with very little value addition. You will agree with me that what distinguishes nations that advance and develop and those that do not start with their ability to generate new ideas through research and development, "he said. Dr. Msiska said that the ability of such engineers in the various fields generate new ideas to translate them into hardware or software. He said engineers had a unique opportunity which had been presented to them by the dream of the republican President of the country which stated that he would conclude nuclear energy as part of the energy mix before the end of his administration. And EIZ president Engineer Sydney Matamwandi said that the strategic plan would help to develop and implement a mentorship and skill development programme for all membership categories of the institution starting 2019. Mr Matamwandi said that the strategic plan will also enhance the operational systems to world class standards by 2020 through the procurement and implementation of member information systems.