Industry association the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA) has called for greater integration and collaboration between South African municipal governments and municipal engineering structures in the Southern African Development Community member States.
The organisation said that the intensified development of regional support networks, knowledge sharing and service integration in the municipal engineering fraternity would facilitate the sharing of best practice principles.
“South African municipalities face very similar challenges to the rest of Southern Africa. It is critical for local government to engage with our neighbouring countries to ensure knowledge transfer, skills transfer and capacity building at a local level,” IMESA president Frank Stevens said on Tuesday.
This came as IMESA revealed its intention to open a branch in Harare, in Zimbabwe, in an effort to improve its visibility in that country.
IMESA had directed a letter to multidisciplinary industry association the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers CEO Dr Sanzan Diarra, as well as the town clerk and heads of departments of Harare municipality, regarding the establishment of the branch, and was currently awaiting feedback.
“A two-day workshop is envisioned to serve as a platform for planning the creation of the IMESA branch in Harare,” Stevens commented, adding that IMESA was also exploring the possibility of setting up a similar process in Swaziland.