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Sifelani Tsiko Senior Writer
Zimbabwe will next month host the second edition of the Unesco Africa Engineering Week, a major global engineering event which aims to promote the profession and explore ways of addressing a myriad development challenges facing Africa and most other developing nations. Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers chief executive Dr Sanzan Diarra told the Herald on Friday that more than 500 delegates from different parts of the world including students from across Africa will attend engineering events from September 14 – 19 in Victoria Falls.

“The engineering fraternity is excited about this rare opportunity to host this prestigious event,” he said.

“It means a lot for Zimbabwe. It’s a demonstration of the confidence the international community has on the country and its engineering professionals. It’s particularly pleasing given the fact Zimbabwe is the current chair of the African Union.

“It’s truly a defining moment for Zimbabwe.”

The Africa Engineering Week hosted in partnership with Unesco, ZIE and the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe aims to educate youth and the general public about engineering through outreach activities such as educational workshops, public awareness events and mentoring activities.

In addition, Dr Diarra said they will be presentations of academic papers that show how engineers are key players in the solutions to important continental and global challenges on issues such as climate change, transport, energy, mining, ICT, water and public works.

“We are delighted that Zimbabwe will hold the engineering event for the first time after it was first hosted by South Africa last year,” he said.

“It is a major event that offers an unprecedented opportunity for Zimbabwe and African engineers to present their research as well as discuss ways to increase the visibility of engineering and its role in sustainable development.”

The theme at the forthcoming conference will be: “Engineering Innovation for Accelerated Infrastructure Development for Africa,” and focus will mainly be raising the visibility of the profession and motivating young African students to get interested in career paths in engineering.

Zimbabwean engineering professionals have contributed immensely to infrastructure development in various parts of the world and Dr Diarra said this was a clear testimony of the role of the country’s education system in developing a highly educated crop of engineers.

“It speaks volumes about our country’s education system, engineering training and our ethics and values,” he said.

ZIE will also hold its biennial congress at the event.

According to 2013 Unesco report, the shortage of engineers is a major concern in Africa and across the world where there has been declining interest and enrolment of young people, especially women.

Experts say engineering is vital to addressing basic human needs, improving the quality of life and creating opportunities for sustainable prosperity on a local, regional, national and global level.

An estimated 2,5 million new engineers and technicians are required in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve the post 2015 development agenda, now known as the Sustainable Development Goals — of improved access to clean water and sanitation.

In Namibia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania, there is one qualified engineer for a population of 6 000 people compared to one engineer per 200 people in China, according to Unesco.

Through its Engineering Initiative, UNESCO is working with African countries to put science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at the heart of national development strategies.