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Botswana is a country to the north of South Africa with a population of around 2 million. It is the world’s largest producer of diamonds, contains a lot of the Kalahari desert and according to Transparency International, has the enviable reputation of being the least corrupt nation in Africa.
It's also one of the first places in Africa to pass laws to combat the corruption, bribery and unethical practices that have caused delays, cost overruns and shoddy work in major engineering projects.
The country’s Engineers Registration Act came into force one year ago, to protect the status of engineers and create the Engineers Registration Board. Engineers working in Botswana had until last week to register with the government-run Board.
Those found in contravention of the new Act can be fined £1,000. A person who uses the prefix “Prof. Eng” and does not have an engineering certificate, can be fined almost £1,350. Repeat offenders could face a custodial sentence.
Oaglie Kanyeto is senior lecturer in civil engineering at the University of Botswana in Gaborone and President of the Botswana Institution of Engineers (BIE). He says the BIE has been pushing for the creation of the regulatory body since 1995 to promote the credibility of Botswana’s engineers.
“We’ve had major problems with big projects not finishing on time and not being done to the standard that was expected. There has been issues of people handling projects when they are not properly qualified and issues of bad conduct- overcharging and obtaining projects by unethical means.”
“We hope the Act will address these issues and raise the status of engineering in Botswana. That it will Improve the confidence from the government and the general public - that the title of Professional Engineer means that you have been scrutinised and assessed accordingly and been found to be competent in your area of specialisation.”
There have been issues with major government-funded infrastructure projects to build roads, dams, airports, water pipelines as well as issues with the operation of power stations and networks. Local media has widely reported problems with the Chinese engineering and construction firm Sinohydro. After failing to perform to the government's expectations in several projects, including a major airport expansion, the company lost out on a tender to build a 220km water pipeline and pulled out of the country.
Meanwhile, the BIE is developing the training and qualification of engineers from Botswana. Like most engineers in Botswana, Kanyeto studied abroad, in Canada at British Columbia and at Kingston University in London. The largest academic institution for the training of engineers in Botswana is the University of Botswana, in the country’s capital, Gaborone. The engineering programmes at the University: civil, electrical, mechanical, architecture and construction and engineering management are in the process of applying for international accreditation of their programs.
“The name of engineering has been damaged but can be restored with this combination of training and registration”
The BIE was set up in 1983 as a voluntary group to discuss issues, share ideas about engineering and to promote the profession. Today the Institution has around 1500 members, but says Kanyeto, there is a lot more engineers in the country that are expected to join.
“Until now, we have been a voluntary body. without anybody being compelled to be a member. But from now on, with the registration at the ERB and as we fulfil the professional body role, we expect many more engineers. We want to be regarded with a better reputation than doctors or lawyers.”