By Suleman Chitera
Salima, Malawi – FDH Financial Holdings Limited chief executive officer, William Mpinganjira, has called on engineers to play a central role in driving Malawi’s national development agenda. He made the remarks at the 2025 Malawi Engineering Institution (MEI) Engineers Conference, held in Salima under the theme “Leadership in Engineering: Breaking Barriers and Empowering Change.”
Engineers as Catalysts for Growth
Mpinganjira praised the engineering profession as the backbone of innovation and progress.
“Engineering is the art of placing humanity at the epicenter of innovation. Engineers are the masterminds behind infrastructure that bridges the gap between remote communities and opportunities, fostering growth and prosperity,” he said.
He challenged MEI to spearhead the registration and training of more engineers in order to elevate professional standards and strengthen Malawi’s competitiveness.
Malawi Lags Behind Regional Peers
Highlighting the urgent need for capacity building, Mpinganjira revealed that Malawi has only 151 registered engineers, compared to Mozambique’s 750, Tanzania’s 1,500, Zambia’s 2,500, and Kenya’s 12,000.
“This gap demonstrates the urgent need to train, mentor, and register more engineers if Malawi is to achieve its development aspirations,” he added.
Leadership at the Core of Engineering Success
Delivering the keynote address, veteran engineer Harry Gombachika traced the profession’s history back to the industrial revolution and emphasised the role of leadership.
“Effective leadership in engineering is the linchpin to unlocking Malawi’s long-term development aspirations, as enshrined in the Malawi 2063 Vision. With poor leadership, achieving these goals will be difficult,” he stressed.
A Platform for Collaboration and Change
The two-day conference brought together engineers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to exchange ideas, showcase innovations, and discuss strategies for empowering the engineering profession.
Organisers believe that by breaking barriers and strengthening leadership, engineers can play a decisive role in building infrastructure, improving technology adoption, and accelerating Malawi’s economic transformation
