The Architects Council of Zimbabwe (ACZ) has welcomed the firm commitment demonstrated by various local authorities to fully enforce the provisions of the Architects Act Chapter 27:01 and the new Statutory Instrument 56 of 2025 (SI 56/2025). This critical legislation introduces mandatory registration categories for architectural professionals and is seen by the ACZ as a vital step towards ensuring orderly development, innovation, and professionalism within the sector. The Council believes that this adherence by local government bodies is a key building pillar towards establishing a proud Zimbabwean architectural heritage.
The commitment follows the recent issuance of public notices by several local authorities, including the City of Harare, City of Masvingo, Murewa Rural District Council, and Mutasa Rural District Council, all informing the public that they are implementing the new SI. The SI 56/2025 specifically outlines the registration categories and the scope of works for professionals involved in the drafting and submission of building plans to the Councils.
The core rule now being strictly enforced is the mandatory registration of practitioners. All Councils are now stipulating that only registered professionals—which includes Registered Architects, Interior Architects, Technologists, Technicians, and others—shall submit building plans within their respective categories.
The commitment to enforcement is being rolled out with specific effective dates across the country: the City of Harare and City of Masvingo will not accept building plans from any unregistered professionals after October 1, 2025. Mutasa Rural District Council has set its deadline for October 20, 2025, while Murewa Rural District Council will begin strict enforcement on November 1, 2025.
Furthermore, every Technologist, Technician, and Draftsperson wishing to design building plans must now be registered with the Architects Council of Zimbabwe (ACZ) before operating within a Council’s jurisdiction. The ACZ intends to conduct random checks on local authority registers to ensure full compliance.
Importantly, the various Councils have advised the public to proactively check if their building designer is a registered professional under the SI 56/2025 before outsourcing services. Lists of registered professionals are available at the respective Council offices (such as the Engineering Services Department in Masvingo or District Offices in Harare) and on the ACZ website. The Councils also clarified that registration with ACZ does not exempt professionals from paying the requisite licensing fees and permits prescribed by the local authority.
