27 Aug 2024

The Architect (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has been hailed as a positive legislation that will not only add value to professionalising, but equally safeguard the architects’ cadre.

Debating the Bill on Monday, Jwaneng/Mabutsane Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile said even though it was important to register all cadres under the architects’ profession, there was need to avoid stringent requirements that would leave others in the lurch.

Mr Reatile said even those categorised as semi-professionals such as artisans must be duly registered and be allowed to register their works without going through architects.

“I wonder why government students will graduate from tertiary institutions, only for their qualifications to be rejected by such a professional body. This is a waste of government funds,” he argued.

Contributing to the debate, Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said the previous recent past amendment of the law regulating architects had subjected diploma graduate and artisans who were doing architectural work, to route their work through architects with degrees for supervision as they were deemed professionals.

“The law should be reviewed and allow them to do the job. Unemployment is high and therefore it would be unfortunate for the legislation to dis-empower people who used to be permitted by the qualifications just for the sake that they do not hold certain qualifications,” Mr Mmolotsi said.

Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile of Maun East contended that it was important for the Bill to recognise architects by their experience and qualifications. Mr Kekgonegile added that the council must, as it regularised professionalism of architects, also ensure that they offered quality service to their customers commensurate with what they charged.

MP Karabo Gare of Moshupa-Manyana said the Bill intended to ensure that all cadres under the architects’ profession were dully registered, legally regulated and recognised by the market as well as knowing their numbers and identifying areas where improvement was needed.

Gaborone North MP, Mr Mpho Balopi said it was appropriate to constantly review and amend pieces of legislation to address imminent challenges. He said the review was to enrich the sector in line with growing a knowledge-based and diversifying of the economy.

“Across the world there are some countries with well-known and symbolic architectural works which were  tourist attractions,” he said. Okavango MP, Mr Kenny Kapinga said cadres such as architects must recognise climate change challenges and combat corruption.  Mr Kapinga said the country was greatly affected by climate change resulting in extreme temperatures.

Therefore, he was of the view that the Architects Professional Council must come up with a structure ideal to address challenges peculiar to Botswana.

He said the sector was allegedly associated with corrupt practices. Mr Kapinga said despite their professionalism, the status of infrastructural works in the country, more especially those done by government were an eye sore, even though supervised by qualified architects who were dully regulated.

He said the council must have necessary powers and responsibility to regulate the profession and do away with challenges of corruption which was greatly affecting the country’s economy.

Ms Nnaniki Makwinja, Member of Parliament for Lentsweletau-Mmopane, said the profession must consider coming with structures that were suitable to address modern day challenges and also envisage the future. The Bill, which seeks to amend the Architects’ Registration Act, consequently passed second reading. ENDS