About the IAZ - Institute of Architects of Zimbabwe

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 In 1940, the Institute became governed by the Architects (Private) Act (Chapter 2015) which superseded the 1929 Act.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.

Our Objectives

To assist and co-operate with the Architects Council in any matter within the powers and jurisdiction of the Architects Council;
To represent the views of the Architects' profession and to maintain its integrity and status; to promote the amicable settlement or adjustment of disputes concerning professional matters, to promote social interaction between members and members of other professions and callings and to consider and deal with all matters affecting the professional interests of members; save where such matters fall within the sole jurisdiction of the Council;
To encourage and promote the study of architecture and to provide means of securing efficiency and responsibility on the part of those seeking admission to the profession;
To establish or arrange, support and maintain libraries, reading rooms, public displays and other functions and to print, publish and circulate books, periodicals, pamphlets and other matters on any subject relating to the profession of an architect and on architecture generally;
To control, supervise and provide facilities for professional training and to determine the conditions applicable thereto;
To found, grant, accept or administer scholarships, bursaries and prizes and to adopt any means for encouraging and directing students in architecture;
To conduct, assist or encourage architectural research and to make public the result of the same;
To affiliate or otherwise enter, into an alliance with any association or other organised body of architects and to co-operate with such association or body in any endeavour furthering the aims and advancement of architecture generally;
To establish and support or aid in the establishment and support of -matters relating to architecture generally and to promote or oppose legislation in Parliament.

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