Prof Chirwa pledges K16.4bn investment in technology park
Prof Chirwa pledges K16.4bn investment in technology parkBy Joan Chirwa
Sunday September 02, 2007 [04:00]
UK-based automotive and aerospace expert Professor Clive Chirwa has pledged an investment of up to two million British Pounds (approximately K16.4 billion) towards the construction of a technology park in Lusaka. And Prof Chirwa has advised Zambians to insist on having investors who will create a supply chain within the country.
During the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ) symposium in Lusaka on Friday, Prof Chirwa said he was in the process of acquiring land in the country where he would put up a technology park.
"The two million pounds approximately K16.4 billion is my own money and I am just waiting on the response from the President Levy Mwanawasa and the Ministry of Lands on where the piece of land will be allocated," he said.
Prof Chirwa, who presented a paper themed 'Creating National Wealth through Engineering Excellence is the Way Forward for Zambia', said the Zambian government should put in place policies that would promote job creation among investors.
Prof Chirwa, who is also editor-in-chief of the International Journal on Crashworthiness, noted that developing the manufacturing sector was a vital route to the creation of employment in the country, considering the high unemployment levels despite having sufficient qualified individuals.
This year's EIZ symposium focused on the role of the engineering profession in fostering national development.
"We have many engineers in Zambia who have got the capability to do things. We need to increase opportunities for our young engineers," Prof Chirwa said. "The manufacturing sector is the saviour for Zambia. If this sector is developed, our engineers will be able to benefit much because they will be able to work."
Prof Chirwa said Zambia urgently requires a policy for re-generation of industry.
"The problem we have is that we have stuck to a colonial framework for prosperity," Prof Chirwa said. "Government has not offered us policy to move from there up the ladder. Forty-three years after independence, we are still at the same level. We have only managed to achieve political independence, economically, we are still far behind."
Professor Chirwa further said the development of the manufacturing sector could also encourage value addition to locally produced goods.
"The 21st Century is Africa's century. Zambia can move towards being one of the richest countries," Prof Chirwa said. "I propose that every time an investor comes into the country, especially those in the mining sector, government should demand that the particular investor creates companies which can process copper within and not outside. That is when we will see people being employed."
He said the government should also create real think tanks like other countries have done to deliver end-user products.
"Knowledge is extremely important for Zambia to have sustainable development and wealth," Prof Chirwa said. "That is why we need to create real think tanks to deliver end products. The Japanese have done it and I believe we can also do it."
Meanwhile, works and supply minister Kapembwa Simbao said Zambia had sufficient qualified engineers that could turn the country's economy around.
Simbao said Zambia had its own qualified engineers that could positively contribute towards the development of the country.
"There is a tendency that anything foreign in this country is superior," said Simbao. "That should not be the case. We need a strong base in this country where engineers will be able to practice effectively."
Labels: CLIVE CHIRWA, EIZ, TECHNOLOGY
posted by MrK @ 3:47 AM
1 Comments:
We can talk and talk. The only problem is that the politicians do not listen.
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