Tanzania’s push toward Vision 2050 is placing engineers under sharper scrutiny, with government warning that integrity and accountability must define the profession if infrastructure is to drive inclusive growth.
Closing the 22nd Engineers Day in Dar es Salaam, Works Minister Abdallah Ulega argued that poorly executed projects erode public trust, drain national resources, and endanger safety.
His message underscored a recurring concern that technical expertise, while vital, is insufficient without ethical discipline.
The Engineers Registration Board (ERB) has been tasked with enforcing higher standards. By denying repeat opportunities to those who compromise their oaths, the board is expected to safeguard the credibility of a sector central to economic transformation.
The directive reflects growing pressure on professional institutions to align their oversight with national development targets.
Beyond penalties, Ulega highlighted the need to invest in talent. He praised ERB’s introduction of awards for outstanding students, describing the program as a mechanism to encourage innovation and attract the next generation into engineering.
Calls for broader stakeholder involvement suggest a recognition that nurturing capacity is as critical as punishing misconduct.
Analysts note that the government’s tone signals impatience with inefficiencies in project delivery at a time when Tanzania is scaling up infrastructure investment.
Ensuring that engineers honor professional codes will be pivotal in translating large-scale projects into long-term economic value.
The event brought together more than 4,000 engineers, including delegates from India, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya, with about 400 taking professional oaths.
The size of the gathering pointed to both the opportunities and the challenges of building an engineering community capable of delivering on the nation’s ambitions.