Tanzania’s Construction Boom Opens Doors for Local Engineers

Posted on : Thursday , 2nd October 2025

The enormous spike in ongoing construction projects around the country has created new opportunities for local engineers, attracting thousands to national development initiatives that were formerly dominated by foreign specialists. A growing pattern not only enhances professional expertise at home, but also offers the impetus required to fulfil the country's Vision 2050 for the construction sector.

Eng David Manga, chairman of the Engineers Registration Board (ERB), stated recently at the 22nd annual Engineers' Day, which was themed achieved vision 2050 and advancing the role of engineers. Local engineers have taken the stage in projects like the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, and he feels this is a watershed moment for the profession.

He stated that since they implemented the official registration procedure for engineers, they have now over 46,000 registered professionals. A significant number of these individuals are involved directly in the country's key development programs. This rise is a clear indicator of the continuous infrastructure boom, as opposed to the past, when the majority of professionals came from abroad.

Eng Manga, however, emphasised that the figures remain low in comparison to the country's long-term goals. Vision 2050 highlights enormous infrastructure projects that have yet to be built. While SGR and hydropower projects increased participation, they aimed to register 130,000 engineers by 2025.

Deputy Prime Minister Dotto Biteko, who presided over the occasion, defined engineering as "the heartbeat of the world and the country in general," stating that no nation can grow without engineers driving its systems and policies. Mr Biteko also encouraged the ERB board to offer more opportunities for young professionals to engage on major projects and to enhance registration efforts.

For his part, Works Minister Abdalla Ulega emphasised the government's commitment to retaining engineers at the forefront of critical projects. Many young people are now proactively participating in national construction projects, and they are going to keep organising them based on their areas of expertise, he stated.

As Tanzania endeavours to enhance its infrastructure, engineers are not just constructing bridges, highways, and power plants; they are also laying the groundwork for the country's future.