The President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, officially opened the 69th Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) Annual General Meeting and Symposium held in Livingstone at Avani Victoria Falls resort from 16th to 18th April 2026.
The engineering conference which brought together over 1,500 engineering professionals from across the country
and beyond was under the theme, “Sustainable energy, smart mining, and regenerative agriculture for an
innovative circular economy”.
In his address, Mr. Hichilema advised engineering professionals to focus on professionalism, measurable outcomes, and societal impact, ensuring development directly benefits citizens. The President also proposed engineering solutions to connect the Luapula river basin and Kafue rivers to increase electricity generation capacity for the country.
He encouraged engineering professionals to move beyond employment and build ownership, enterprises,
and investment value, allowing professionals to benefit from dividends within the sector. Minister of Infrastructure Hon. Eng. Charles Milupi emphasised the critical role engineering professionals play in delivering resilient and sustainable infrastructure, noting that Government will continue to prioritise policies and investments that support innovation, local capacity building, and the growth of engineering-led enterprises. Eng. Milupi further urged professionals to uphold high standards of ethics and quality in project execution, stating that engineering excellence remains central to achieving Zambia’s long-term development goals. EIZ President Eng. Wesley Kaluba said the Institution was grateful that the Republican President had appointed a number of engineering professionals as Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Board members of various
parastatal companies.
“We would therefore like to see the engineering professionals at these levels use their professional knowledge to attract and defend important engineering infrastructural development projects, as well as contribute
to the enhancement of the welfare of other engineers thereby motivating them to higher productivity for
national economy development,” he said.
Eng. Kaluba also appealed for the establishment of the Office of the Engineer General and increased representation of engineers at Cabinet level to strengthen technical decision-making.
He further thanked the Republican President for supporting the approval of engineering charge-out rates,
describing the development as a milestone promoting fairness, standardization, and professionalism within the
engineering sector.
The event featured different activities including the Skills League exhibitions showcasing student innovations,
technical symposium presentations addressing renewable energy, digital infrastructure, mining
innovation, climate resilience, and smart agriculture, as well as policy discussions and sponsor forums promoting
public-private partnerships and industrial collaboration. Some of the major highlights were the celebration of the
10th Anniversary of the Zambia Women in Engineering Section (ZWES), which marked a decade of empowering
women engineering professionals through mentorship, leadership development, and innovation dialogue
centered on engineering a circular future.
Delegates also participated in the Presidential Debate, professional networking sessions, exhibitions, and the
Benevolent Fund and Institutional Annual General Meetings that reviewed the profession’s progress and
governance matters. The event further recognised excellence through the conferment of Fellows to distinguished members whose contributions have significantly advanced engineering practice and national development, alongside the presentation of Presidential and Engineering Excellence Awards honouring outstanding professionals and organisations. The AGM concluded with a vibrant Gala Dinner celebrating professional achievements, unity within the engineering fraternity, and EIZ’s continued commitment to driving innovation, professionalism, and sustainable national development.
