Summary
- New ZIE president William Goriwondo urges engineers to play a central role in national policy under NDS2.
- He calls for stricter enforcement of the ECZ Act and mandatory registration to safeguard professional standards.
- Goriwondo pledges to modernise skills in AI and digital systems while deepening collaboration between academia and industry.
NEWLY elected Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE) president Professor Engineer William M. Goriwondo says engineers must move from the margins to the centre of national decision-making if Zimbabwe is to meet its development goals under National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
Goriwondo, who also serves as Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Business Development at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), argues that technical expertise has been under-represented in policy formulation despite the country’s heavy reliance on infrastructure-led growth.
“Engineers must be formally recognised as critical contributors to National Development Strategy 2,” he said. “We need stronger engineering representation in national planning and policy processes.”
Pushing policy influence and professional recognition
At the core of Goriwondo’s agenda is policy advocacy aimed at strengthening the status and regulation of the engineering profession. He says enforcement of the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe (ECZ) Act must be prioritised to protect both the profession and the public.
According to Goriwondo, engineering work is often carried out by unlicensed practitioners, exposing the country to safety risks and poor-quality infrastructure.
“There are many activities of an engineering nature being executed by non-engineering professionals,” he said. “When failures occur, engineers are blamed, yet the law is not being enforced.”
He said ZIE will lobby government to strengthen ECZ’s capacity to regulate professional practice and ensure mandatory registration across all engineering disciplines.
Skills reform, AI and continuous professional development
Goriwondo also wants to reposition ZIE as a driver of modern skills development, particularly in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 systems.
He said the institution’s Continuous Professional Development (CPD) framework must evolve to reflect rapid technological change and align more closely with licence renewal requirements.
“Our CPD programmes should focus on upskilling engineers in AI, digital systems and modern industrial technologies,” he said, adding that technological integration is no longer optional for the profession.
The focus on skills modernisation and leadership in engineering mirrors wider shifts in the profession, including the growing role of women in digital security and innovation.
Bridging academia and industry
Holding senior leadership roles in both academia and professional engineering, Goriwondo believes stronger collaboration between universities and industry is essential for sustainable development.
He said Zimbabwe has relied too heavily on imported research and solutions that are not always suited to local conditions, despite growing domestic capacity.
Innovation hubs established at higher education institutions offer an opportunity to generate home-grown engineering solutions, he said, provided collaboration is deepened.
Inclusion across engineering disciplines
Goriwondo acknowledged perceptions that ZIE caters to only a narrow range of engineering fields, saying his leadership would focus on inclusion and interdisciplinary collaboration.
He said area chapters and graduate engagement programmes would be used to broaden participation and ensure the institution reflects the diversity of the profession.
Balancing leadership roles
Despite juggling multiple senior responsibilities, Goriwondo said his roles are complementary rather than conflicting, supported by strong teams and digital tools that improve efficiency.
“Technology allows me to work smarter, not harder,” he said, adding that he relies on structured delegation and occasional time on the golf course or fishing to manage pressure.
Engineering’s role in Vision 2030
Goriwondo said the success of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 agenda will depend heavily on the quality, ethics and technical competence of its engineers, particularly as infrastructure development accelerates.
“Many of Vision 2030’s aspirations rest on infrastructure,” he said. “The role of engineers in that process cannot be overstated.”
As he begins his term, Goriwondo says his focus will remain on strengthening professional standards, modernising skills and positioning engineers as indispensable contributors to Zimbabwe’s development trajectory.
