The Director General of Immigration, Japhet Lishomwa says the Memorandum
signed between the Agency and the Engineering Institution of Zambia will help
to promote merit in the engineers that are coming to the country.
Recently the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) signed a memorandum of
understanding MoU with the Department of Immigration which commits the two
institutions to work together more closely towards a common goal of ensuring
that engineering skills coming into the country are the required skills.
Lishomwa explained that as the lead agency in Zambia’s migration management
framework, the Department of Immigration is the sole regulator of the entry,
stay, and exit of foreign engineering professionals in the country but
unfortunately, it is not competent in engineering, and therefore it cannot
ascertain whether a person is truly a qualified engineering professional who
should be permitted to practice his trade in Zambia or not.
Lishomwa added that on the other hand, EIZ is the only institution in Zambia
that is mandated to register and license anyone providing engineering services.
He said it is from this simplistic delineation of the two institutions’
mandates, that it is contextually clear that the two are indispensable to each
other: hence the need to support each other to execute the respective mandates
effectively hence the importance of the MoU signed.
Lishomwa said for the Department of Immigration, this kind of collaboration
is underscored in the national migration policy that calls for a
whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to effective migration
management, leaving no one behind.
“While in some professions one can get away with allowing an unqualified or
unlicensed individual to engage in the practice of such a profession, we cannot
afford to get it wrong in the distinguished engineering profession. This is
because the performance of engineering services by unqualified individuals can
pose serious dangers to public safety.”
Lishomwa further said, “Among other sensitive duties, engineers design,
plan, and supervise the construction of buildings and ensure their safety and
stability against hazards. Therefore, we shall continue to consult the EIZ on
licensing foreign professionals, units, and organizations as part of our permit
issuance process.”
Speaking during the Signing ceremony EIZ registrar and Chief Executive
Officer Eng. David Kamungu said the partnership will help the institution with
information on the number of foreign engineering professionals, units, and
organizations coming to do engineering work in the country.
Kamungu said the MoU will further help EIZ to have a record of engineering
professionals coming into the country and what kind of skills they are
offering.
“EIZ is looking forward to having a long-term relationship with the Department
of Immigration to maintain the quality of engineering works by scrutinizing the
qualifications of engineering professionals migrating to Zambia to work as
engineering professionals.”
“This partnership will further allow for effective communication and
collaboration between the two institutions. I am confident that through our
efforts and commitment, we will be able to achieve more and ensure our
engineering professionals continue to benefit through this MoU.
Engineer Kamungu also assured that the engineering institution of Zambia
will do whatever it can to provide a successful implementation of the
MoU.
