By Dickson Bandera
Zimbabwe’s Cabinet has approved the Principles of the Architects Amendment Bill, 2025, in a move expected to strengthen oversight and weed out unregistered practitioners from the country’s architectural profession.
Announcing the development after Tuesday’s Twenty-First Cabinet Meeting chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere said the profession must remain credible and accountable.
“The architectural profession in Zimbabwe, like in other jurisdictions, is a specialised and merit-based field that demands professional rigour, ethical accountability, and adherence to statutory requirements outlined in the Architects Act [Chapter 27:01],” Dr. Muswere said.
However, he noted that the industry has faced challenges caused by an influx of graduates practicing without registering with the Architects Council.
“The profession has recently faced significant challenges due to an influx of graduates practicing without mandatory registration with the Architects Council,” he said, warning that this puts clients, communities and the built environment at risk.
To address this, the amendment will give the Council stronger powers to enforce standards and root out unqualified operators.
“The amendment aims to reinforce the Council’s authority, ensuring that only qualified and registered professionals undertake architectural work in Zimbabwe,” Dr. Muswere said.
Architecture plays a critical role in shaping towns, cities and neighbourhoods. Professional architects plan, design and supervise the construction of buildings, balancing creativity, functionality and safety.
Their designs must comply with building codes, structural requirements and environmental considerations, ensuring that what is built today serves communities safely for decades to come.
The new Bill will also recognise other professionals with architectural training and define clear career pathways.
“The amendment also seeks to accommodate various professionals with architectural training, such as architectural technologists, technicians, draftsmen, interior architects, and landscape architects. A clear roadmap will be provided for professionals transitioning from lower tiers to full-fledged architects,” Dr. Muswere said.
To clamp down on unregistered practice, penalties for non-compliance will be strengthened. Local licensing will also be standardised across all local authorities to close loopholes that have enabled informal operators to bypass regulation.
“Enforcement mechanisms will be strengthened through deterrent penalties for non-compliance,” Dr. Muswere said. “Furthermore, the amendment aims to standardise regulations for issuing operator’s licenses across local authorities, eliminating inconsistencies that create loopholes and weaken regulatory oversight.”
The Minister said the reforms will help protect the profession’s reputation and maintain high standards, just like in other regulated fields such as law and medicine. In Zimbabwe, lawyers must be admitted to the bar to appear in court, while doctors, pharmacists and accountants cannot practice without recognised professional registration.
“This will help curb the proliferation of informal, unregistered architectural practice, ultimately upholding the integrity and standards of the profession,” Dr. Muswere said.
The Bill will now proceed to drafting before it is tabled in Parliament.
