09 Nov 2021

Some engineers have continued to practice illegally ignoring the Engineers Registration Board (ERB). The ERB Act prescribes that any person desirous to operate as an engineer in Botswana to must register with, and a practicing certificate from ERB.

“It is illegal for an individual to practice engineering without being licensed to do so by ERB,” said ERB registration manager, Ms Mercy Kgosidialwa in an interview recently. It is the sole mandate of ERB to regulate and license individual engineers to practice in a defined discipline locally, she said.

According to Ms Kgosidialwa, the defaulting engineers were found in both private and public sector. She said such engineers were taking advantage of limitations brought about by the Engineers Registration Act.

“The current act does not give ERB rights of entry to constructions sites for inspections and limit them to regulate the entire engineering industry, noted Ms Kgosidialwa.

She further revealed that compliance rate on the part of government ministries, departments and agencies was also very low.

This was despite the fact government was the biggest spender on infrastructure development projects.

It was the indifferent attitude of government agencies that encouraged engineers to operate illegally, either as its employees or service providers.

Ms Kgosidialwa further regretted that majority of government employed engineering staff had not attempted to apply for registration and those who had, did not regularly renew their annual practicing certificates.

She called on members of the public to report individuals who practised without a valid registration and practising certificates.

Ms Kgosidialwa said if caught, such individuals were issued with legal desist notices and taken to task through the courts of law.

“Up to date, the board has prosecuted one individual through the courts of law and deregistered two persons.

Furthermore, twenty-three interdicts have been issued to persons practicing engineering without being registered or possessing practicing certificates,” she said.

Furthermore the ERB had partnered with employers of engineers to reinforce regulation, more specifically the need for registration and compliance by their engineering personnel.

Moreover, the board was at an advanced stage of motivating for tabling of proposed amendments to close the existing gaps.

The board had also engaged in extensive marketing targeting engineering professionals and other eligible persons. Ends