Standards body cautions unprofessional engineers

Unprofessional practitioners in the construction industry are headed for hard times as the Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) moves to tighten construction regulations to promote quality and safety in infrastructure development.“Rwanda is one of the countries in African with a high rate of urbanisation. This calls for professionalism in the sector to ensure compliance with guidelines,” Samuel Mporanzi, the RBS standards lead officer, said. He added that observing standards is crucial for any country to achieve its development goals and protect citizens. He noted that safety and sustainability of infrastructure are paramount for the country to have a better future.“All stakeholders, especially engineers, must adhere to the minimum standard requirements to enhance quality and safety, and also make sure that these guidelines are enforced and followed,” he said. Mporanzi pointed out that RBS will work with all the stakeholders, including the Council of Engineers, real estate developers, the Rwanda Housing Authority, the Rwanda Institute of Engineers and the private sector, to ensure that quacks and unprofessional practitioners are eliminated from the sector “because they compromise standards and safety”.Mporanzi said the standards body would increase awareness campaigns to ensure that stakeholders clearly understand the importance and benefits of observing standards in the construction industry. “Besides, if we do not ensure adherence to guidelines, our safety will be a stake. Therefore, professionalism is key in this sector, and we cannot let our guard down,” Mporanzi explained.Eng. Dismas Nkubana, the Rwanda Engineer’s Governance Council chairman, said streamlining the construction industry is important for the safety of the nation and the population.“Professionalism is crucial for the construction industry’s growth,” he said. Harouna Nshimiyimana, the director of housing inspection unit at the Rwanda Housing Authority, called for strengthen of regulations governing the sector to ensure sustainable growth, and to rid it of quacks and unscrupulous dealers.He pointed out that it is also important to have a reliable source of building materials to check the sale of substandard products.“We are currently trying to identify areas where we can get quality local construction materials to stop over relying on imports.”The government recently announced that it will establish an industry watchdog under the new national construction policy next year to co-ordinate sector activities.The City of Kigali early this year urged all engineers and architects to join their professional body, and warned it would recognise anybody who is not registered with the institute of engineers.

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Standards body cautions unprofessional engineers