Our History
The Institute of Southern Rhodesian Architects was founded on 5th November 1924, with Capt. J.R. Hobson MC FRIBA, being elected the founding president, with a vice-president and assisted by a Council of four.
A standard scale of fees chargeable by members was drawn up and much was done to improve the status of architectural practioners in the country. In 1926 the Royal Institute of British Architects accepted the ISKA as an allied society.
In 1929 the registration of Architects was achieved through the Architects (Private) Act, which established an Institute, the functions of which were to consolidate and safeguard the interests of the profession and to protect the public by insistence upon a high standard of qualification for membership. It specified the ISRA as a corporate body and defined the rights, powers, privileges and duties of its members. It protected the title “Architect", and set out the minimum qualifications necessary for registration. On 14th July 1930 the Institute elected the first Council under the Act. Note that the former Institute was managed by a Council, and not a Board, which has led to confusion after the 1975 Act was promulgated and Architects Council became the statutory body, elected by the Institute of Southern Rhodesian Architects, which was thereafter managed by a Board.
In 1932 the ISRA was authorized by the hlEaA to conduct locally the examinations for entry to the RIBA. In 1940, the Institute became governed by the Architects (Private) Act (Chapter 2015) which superseded the 1929 Act. In 1975, the present Architects Act was promulgated, as detailed above, and the Institute constitution revised accordingly. At Independence in 1980, the Institute was renamed The Institute of Architects of Zimbabwe.
2021 IAZ / ACZ Board
ACZ Chairman: Arch. James McComish
ACZ Vice Chairman: Arch. Jawett Dzimwasha
IAZ President: Architect Tsitsi Dzvukamanja
Vice-President: Architect Stephen Nyambuya
Board Members:
Architect James McComish
Architect Jawett Dzimwasha
Architect Gil Shepherd
Architect Luka Pantic
Architect Arthur Matondo
Architect Tatenda Mchibwa
Architect Ratidzo Musekwa
Architect Philip Mukura (MLG&PW)
Mrs Lucy Murefu-Tshuma (MLG&PW)
Registrar: Mr G. Sheppard
Secretariat: Mrs V. Banda