Story by Patience Nyagato
The government says opportunities created by the Second Republic in the construction industry are open for all professionals including architects as the country aims to achieve Vision 2030.
This came out at the Institute of Architects annual general meeting held in Harare.
The need to amend existing architecture acts to suit modern day standards was high during discussions at the Institute of Architects annual general meeting this Friday.
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe said, “One critical proposal was the need to amend the Architects Act. Most of the things that are happening in the building environment now are not covered by that act. Key among those is the new technologies that are being used now in construction. The act does not provide for the supervision of new technologies. They also said there are challenges to do with enforcement. So the structure of the whole act needs to be revised.
“We also discussed the issue of building bylaws. Our bylaws are as old as you can imagine. Some of them were generated as far back as 1890, I mean 100 years old. And we now want to do our way with British standards and have Zimbabwe standards. Our bylaws are referring to British standards, this is not the UK, this is Zimbabwe and we must have Zimbabwe standards. Standards that conform to our conditions, our environment, standards that conform to the climate change as we face it here.”
Minister Garwe highlighted various opportunities created by the second republic in infrastructure development that can benefit architects and other professionals.
“We are now challenging our architects to revise their design to speak one to the dictates of Vision 2030 and to the dictates of climate challenges as well. Other meetings that are explicit on the challenges of climate in line with the social, economic challenges, the access to the bridges that are being built.”
Government is intensifying efforts to meet its goal of delivering one million housing units by 2025 with the support of various public-private partnerships which have already begun construction around the country.
