By Patience Gondo
The City of Masvingo (COM) has announced that, effective October 1, 2025, only registered professionals will be permitted to draft and submit building plans to the city council.
This enforcement aligns with Statutory Instrument 56 of 2025 (SI 56/2025), issued under the Architects Act Chapter 27:01.
In a statement on Tuesday, COM said the council will no longer accept building plans from unregistered individuals as part of its implementation of SI 56/2025.
“The regulation specifically requires that registered professionals including architects, interior architects, technologists, and technicians submit all building plans,” statement reads .
“This requirement pertains to the registration categories for professionals within the architectural field and outlines the specific scope of work, including the drafting and submission of building plans to the Council.”
The City of Masvingo said every architect and draftsperson wishing to draw building plans for stands within the City and peri-urban areas must be registered with the Architects Council of Zimbabwe (ACZ).
“This registration process is essential to ensure compliance with the new regulations,” COM said.
To enforce compliance, the Architects Council of Zimbabwe (ACZ) will conduct random checks on local authorities’ registers.
The City has advised the public to verify whether their draftsperson is a registered professional under SI 56/2025 before engaging in building plan drafting services.
“The intent of this measure is to guarantee that building plans are prepared and submitted by qualified and registered professionals, thereby enhancing the quality and safety of construction projects in Masvingo,” COM said.
For public convenience, the city has made it easier to access the list of registered professionals.
These can be found through various channels, including the Engineering Services Department at the Civic Centre Gardens, the Council Website, and Housing Administration Offices located in Rujeko, Mucheke, and Chesvingo. and also the AACZ) Offices and website.
COM said the registration with ACZ does not exempt professionals from paying the prescribed fees set by the city council.