RESPONSE TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION – REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS IN BOTSWANA

(29 March 2023)

QUESTION ASKED BY: MR. P. Motaosane, MP. (Thamaga-Kumakwane)To ask the Minister of Transport and Public Works whether registration with Engineering Registration Botswana (ERB) by engineers in the public service could help improve the culture of unethical conduct and therefore reduce corruption perception in development projects and to further state:

(i) the total number of engineers currently employed under his Ministry and out of those, how many are registered with ERB as practicing professionals;

(ii) if the Minister is happy with the uptake of ERB registration by his engineers; and

(iii) whether engineers employed in public service are exempted from registering with ERB.

ANSWER:

Mr. Speaker, I agree that registration of engineers in the public service could help improve the culture of unethical conduct and reduce corruption perception in development projects in the country.Section 19 of the Engineers Registration Act criminalises carrying out of engineering work without a valid practicing certificate issued by ERB.

The Act further provides for striking off of engineering professionals who have not renewed their practicing certificates.In my recent Committee of Supply speech I indicated that the ongoing review of legislation of regulatory bodies shall allow for the registration of all professional and quasi-professionals. The review will tighten this requirement in the new Act.

(i) The total number of engineers currently employed under my Ministry is 485, out of these, 268 are registered with ERB; and 66 of them hold practicing certificates.(ii) I am not satisfied that the level of registration of Engineers in my Ministry currently stands at 55%. My Ministry will intensify the roll-out of programmes for skills development of technical staff and professionals, to instill a culture of high performance. (iii) All engineers employed in the country and the public service are obliged to comply with the law and therefore none of them are exempted from registering with ERB.

original article for Ministry of Transport Facebook