Harare, (New Ziana) — The City of Harare has announced the full enforcement of Statutory Instrument (SI) 56 of 2025, which prohibits unregistered professionals from drafting or submitting building plans to Council, in a move aimed at tightening compliance and enhancing the quality and safety of architectural works in the capital.

Effective 1 October this year, the city council said it would only accept building plans prepared and submitted by registered professionals in accordance with the Architects Act.

This includes registered architects, interior architects, technologists, and technicians who fall within clearly defined categories under the new statutory framework.

According to a public notice issued by the Office of the City Architect under the Department of Works, the enforcement marks a significant step in professionalising the building and construction sector by ensuring that only qualified and legally recognized practitioners handle architectural designs and submissions.

“The City of Harare shall not receive building plans from any unregistered professionals with effect from 1 October 2025. Council advises the public to verify whether their building designer is a registered professional before outsourcing building plan designing services,” reads part of the notice.

The local authority further urged residents, ratepayers, and real estate practitioners to cross-check credentials of architectural service providers through official platforms, including all City of Harare District Offices, Cleveland House, the Architects Council of Zimbabwe (ACZ) offices, and the ACZ website.

It added that the Architects Council of Zimbabwe will also conduct random inspections of local authority registers to ensure compliance with the statutory requirements, underscoring Government’s zero-tolerance stance towards unregistered practice in the sector.

The local authority clarified that all technologists, technicians, and draftspersons intending to design building plans for stands within Harare should be registered with the ACZ, adding however, that registration with the council does not exempt practitioners from paying separate licensing fees as prescribed by the City.

By enforcing SI 56/2025, the City of Harare aims to safeguard the public from substandard and unsafe building designs while promoting accountability and professionalism among architectural practitioners.

The move aligns with broader national efforts to ensure sustainable urban development and adherence to building standards across the country.

New Ziana