Locally-trained engineers seek global recognition

ZAMBIA

is currently at a cliff of a real debt overhang which needs to be urgently addressed, Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has said.

CTPD researcher Bright Chizonde said the accumulation of public debt had already caused challenges as macroeconomic performance continue to decline.

“It is therefore imperative for Government to take corrective actions and address the rapid accumulation of debt which now stands at over 70 percent of GDP.

“To start with, there is an urgent need to reduce the pace of debt accumulation. The contraction of loans amounting to US$1.3 billion in 2018 alone leaves much to be desired,” Mr Chizonde said.

He said civil society organisations had continued to advance a number of options for improved debt management and corrective measures for economic recovery.

Mr Chizonde urged Government to stimulate private sector growth.

“It is the conclusion of many macroeconomists in this country that Zambia would not recover as long as the private sector remained subdued.

“Government has made some pronouncement concerning stimulating private sector growth through reducing the accumulation of domestic arrears,” he said

In the 2020 Budget, Mr Chizonde said, Government only plans to spend K2.3 billion toward the K20.2 billion bill in arrears.

He said this was not ficient commitment sufto dismantling domestic arrears.

“We need to urgently implement policies which will meaningfully create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive. This includes reducing domestic borrowing, dealing with the energy crisis and improving liquidity,” he said.

Mr Chizonde said Government should develop a credible borrowing plan.

He said if Zambia was to set debt on a sustainable path, there was need to develop a credible borrowing plan which would generate both private sector and donor confidence.

“To bring the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on board for a programme, Zambia’s debt needs to be set on a sustainable path.

We certainly hope it will not be when the country is in a worst state than today,” he said. Mr Chizonde said an IMF programme promises to restore investor confidence and thus providing a window for debt restructuring at a significantly lower cost.

ENGINEERING Institution of Zambia (EIZ) has worked out ways of enhancing educational quality and global mobility for its members, President Eugene Haazele has said.

Mr Haazele said the EIZ has thus commenced the process to join the International Engineering Alliance.

He said that the council has chosen the Engineering Council of South Africa to provide necessary mentorship through the process.

The International Engineering Alliance is a body whose purpose is to get members to work together and advance educational quality and global mobility within the engineering profession.

Members of the body include Japan, Canada, USA, United Kingdom, South Korea, China and South Africa.

Mr Haazele said that the qualification which Zambia- based institutions offering engineering education would enjoy recognition in all member countries of the alliance.

“This simply means certificates issued by our institutions will be an acceptable education base for professional practice in industrialised countries such as USA, Japan and many others.

“The current status is that the University of Zambia engineering degree is not acceptable by Engineering Council in United Kingdom for registration as a professional engineer. This simply means when you go to UK with UNZA degree you are not accepted. This sad state of affairs is what we want to put to an end,” he said.

Mr Haazele said the unrecognised certificates and degrees had impacted negatively on engineers who had joined multinationals companies like giant mining companies as their salaries were low.