Why Zimbabwean Engineers Must Step Into Politics
Decades after independence, the nation still faces persistent power shortages, deteriorating roads, inadequate water supply and an industrial base that has failed to keep pace with regional competitors. These are not challenges that can be solved with endless legal debates or political rhetoric. They demand technical expertise, problem-solving skills and above all, leaders who understand how to build. For this reason, come 2028, it is time for engineers in Zimbabwe to step boldly into the political arena.
For too long, Zimbabwe’s politics has been dominated by lawyers. Their role is vital in safeguarding the constitution, upholding rights and ensuring accountability, but an overconcentration of legal minds has tilted governance towards excessive regulation and policy wrangling. What the nation lacks is a parallel stream of leaders who can design, implement and deliver practical solutions on the ground.
Where lawyers are trained to interpret problems through rules and arguments, engineers are trained to solve problems through design, construction and innovation. Zimbabwe’s national development needs the latter more than ever.
Engineers are problem solvers by nature. They are taught to analyse complex situations, break them down into manageable parts and produce workable, cost-effective solutions. They understand systems, whether in energy, water, transport or ICT and know how to link them to create efficiency.
An engineer in government brings discipline, precision and a results-oriented mindset. They are less likely to be distracted by endless arguments and more likely to ask: “How do we fix this?” and “How soon can it be delivered?” In a country facing collapsing infrastructure, high unemployment and energy deficits, this mindset is indispensable.
Zimbabwe’s economy cannot grow without reliable power, functioning roads, efficient railways and modern digital infrastructure. These are not abstract policy discussions; they are concrete projects that demand the leadership of people who understand technical details, project management and innovation.
Imagine a parliament where a sizeable number of representatives are engineers, civil engineers driving road rehabilitation, electrical engineers shaping energy reforms, ICT engineers pushing for digital transformation and chemical engineers advancing value addition in mining and agriculture. Such leadership would ensure that laws are not just political statements but practical frameworks designed to support implementation.
Globally, countries that prioritised engineering mindsets in leadership have made rapid developmental strides. China, South Korea and Singapore all invested in technocratic governance, with engineers and scientists shaping policy directions. These nations moved from poverty to industrial success within a generation. Zimbabwe, facing similar developmental deficits, has every reason to follow this path.
It is true that engineers in Zimbabwe have often kept to their professional lanes, focusing on private sector projects or consultancy work, leaving politics to others. Many fear the messy nature of politics, preferring the clarity of technical work. Yet, if engineers remain on the sidelines, the vacuum will continue to be filled by individuals who may excel in argument but struggle in delivery.
To change this, professional associations such as the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers Engineering Council of Zimbabwe should actively encourage their members to participate in politics, even offering leadership training programmes tailored for engineers. Universities should also prepare engineering students not only for technical careers but for leadership roles in governance.
To my fellow engineers, Zimbabwe’s future depends on leaders who can build, not just debate. Engineers must therefore view politics not as a distraction from their profession, but as an extension of it nation-building on the grandest scale. Entering politics is not about abandoning engineering, it is about applying engineering principles to governance, where they are needed most.
The next generation of Zimbabwean leaders should not only wear gowns from law schools but also helmets from engineering sites. The country’s progress hinges on power plants completed, roads rehabilitated, water systems modernised and industries revived. These outcomes require the leadership of those who know how to make things work.
Zimbabwean engineers must rise from the drawing board to the decision-making table. The nation needs their expertise, their discipline and their vision to construct a future that is not just spoken of in manifestos but built in reality.
By Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi
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