REGISTRATION AS AN ARCHITECT IN ZIMBABWE

The Architects Council of Zimbabwe is a statutory body that provides for the registration of Architects in Zimbabwe under the terms of The Architects Act.

Any person who wishes to perform the work of an architect as a partner or principal in private practice in ar­chitecture, is required to register in terms of the Architects Act 1975, of which copies are available from the Govern­ment Printers, P.O. Box 8062, Cecil House, Jason Moyo Avenue, Harare. The Act describes the work of an architect as:

  • the designing of buildings or of additions thereof; the supervision of the work of constructing buildings or of additions thereto.
  • Section 40 of the Act permits an unregistered per­son who is in the bona fide employment of a registered architect to perform the work of an architect under the direction and control of such registered architect.

The provisions of the Act do not apply to any person in the employment of the State or Local Government, who are controlled by their own terms of employment. Govern­ment and municipal architects ore however encouraged to become registered. Section 39 of the Act says, inter olio, that a person who is not a registered architect may not perform the work of an architect for gain or use a description that is calcu­lated to convey that he is a registered architect. The Second Schedule of the Act describes persons who qualify for registration as - A person who:

  • Is of or over the age of twenty-one years; and is ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe; and has passed an examination prescribed by the Council or any examination recognized by the Council as being equivalent to one so prescribed;
  • and has, for a continuous period of two years, per­formed the work of an architect under the direction and control of and in the some office as a registered architect or an architect referred to in subparagraph (b) of paragraph 2; or architectural work which in the opinion of the Council is of sufficient variety and of a satis­ factory nature and standard for the purpose of registration as an architect.

A person who­ is ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe; and immediately before the appointment day (1 March 1976) was a duly registered member of the Institute of Rhodesian Architects established by section 3 of the Architects (Private) Act (Chap­ter 208). In order to meet the above requirements, a person wishing to apply for registration should be prepared to furnish the following information:

  • Birth Certificate or certified copy.
  • Proof of residence in Zimbabwe by means of cer­tified documentary evidence.
  • The applicant must have proof that he or she resides in Zimbabwe and no other country, by means of a permanent address, terms of employment, place of birth or entry into the country, I. D. Card, et cetera, and may be required if there is doubt to provide a sworn affidavit.

In the case of a new resident a Work permit issued by the Immigration Authorities is essential. An original certificate of any qualification which is relied upon for registration, or a certified copy. The examinations prescribed (for the purposes of subparagraph (c) of paragraph 1 of the Second Schedule) shall consist of:

  • a degree or diploma of any School of Ar­chitecture which entitles the holder to register as an architect in the country or state of issue, subject to a requirement for a peri­od of practical experience, and
  • a written and oral examination ad­ministered by the Architects Council.
  • Certified evidence to prove that the applicant has performed the work of an architect as re­quired by 5.1(d)(i) above for a continuous peri­od of two years or certified evidence by way of drawings or photographs that the applicant can meet the requirements of 5.1.(d)(ii) above. Council prefers and recommends that at least six months experience of local practice conditions is necessary before taking the Professional Prac­tice examinations.
EXAMINATION In professional practice (PPE)

One of the requirements for registration as an architect in Zimbabwe is to pass a written and oral examination in professional practice as it applies in Zimbabwe. The ex­amination is administered by the Architects Council.

The written examination is of three hours duration and candidates are required to answer five questions under the headings: Professional Conduct; Conditions of Engage­ment; Model Building By-laws; Town Planning Legislation and Contractual Procedure. The Planning Legislation and Contractual Procedure. The examination is an "open book" examination and candidates may consult any of the liter­ature mentioned below during the examination. Following the written examination, candidates will present themselves for an oral examination at a time to be fixed some days after the written paper. Candidates will be asked to qualify their answers where necessary and any­thing else within the scope of professional practice, and are required to bring examples of their work. The oral ex­amination, which is an examination in its own right, car­ries the same marks as the written paper and the pass­mark for each is 60 per cent. The examination is based on the following reading:

  • Architects Act No. 35 of 1975
  • Architects (General) By-laws of 1976 (RGN 296/76)
  • Architects (General) (Amendment) By-laws 1980 CSI 333/80)
  • Architects (Professional Conduct) Regulations 1976 (RGN 810/76)
  • Architects (Conditions of Engagement and Scale of Fees) By-laws 1980 (SI 829/80)
  • Model Building By-laws 1977
  • Model Building (Amendment) By-laws 1979 (S1300/544/547/716/79)
  • Model Building (Amendment) By-laws 1981 (SI 271/81)
  • Model Building (Amendment) By-laws 1985 (SI 310/85)
  • Town Planning Court Rules 1971
  • Regional, Town and Country Planning Act 1976 RTCP (Use Groups) Regulations 1976
  • RTCP (Subdivision and Consolidation) Regulations 19
  • RTCP (General Development) Order 1976
  • RTCP (Development) Regulations 1976
  • RTCP (Advertisements) Regulations 1976
  • RTCP (Claims for Compensation) Regulations 1977
  • RTCP (Master and Local Plans) Regulations 1977
  • Factories and Works Act (Chapter 283)

These are obtained from the Government Printers, P.O. Box 8062, Cecil House, Jason Moyo Avenue, Harare and Agreement and Schedule of Conditions of Building Con­tract (where Bills of Quantities form part of the contract) Agreement and Schedule of Conditions of Building Con­tract (Lump Sum) which are obtainable from the Institute's offices.

The examination is held annually towards the end of each year. Application forms and past papers are available from the Institute's offices.