03 Apr 2014

The Architects’ Registration (Amendment) Bill April, 2014 presented to Parliament on April 2 has been passed to committee stage.

Supporting the bill prior to its passing, MP for Mahalapye West, Mr Bernard Bolele asked Parliament to agree to the subvention for the society of architects until they were able to fund their operation.

He said it should be specified how many years should the subvention be given to council and that the council should thereafter state why it should be given further subvention. He said this would enable the council to look for better ways of funding itself and that subvention would not be kept forever.

MP for Gaborone Central, Mr Dumelang Saleshando asked as to why it was the duty of the minister to define the specialised works, and why the council could not perform such. He was of the idea that the council should be the one that regulated what each category in the industry could perform and to what extent.

“Why do you want the minister now defining the scope that excludes certain categories and not the council, which could do so on a regular basis given the developments in the industry,” he said.

Mr Saleshando further said he wondered as to why draftspersons could not submit their drawings to council instead of submitting them to architect for signing because this will come at a cost to a customer.

“I thought the purpose to register technologists and draftspersons was meant to ensure regulation and that they meet minimum requirements and have the competencies,” he said.

Kanye North MP, Mr Kentse Rammidi said he was against controls put in place. He said Botswana was a third world country, hence should not benchmark laws at countries that are sustainable enough and think they can be imposed in the country.

He said he does not support subvention from government because this creates problems as government will now be in control and that this also led to dependency on government.

He said associations that banked on government subventions were struggling to survive. He suggested that for every project that architects do, there should be a levy that goes to the association because in that way, there will be a steady revenue that goes to the council instead of waiting for government subvention.

He said the proposed bill subjects all the buildings in the planning area to be undertaken by registered architects, adding that he had a problem with draftsperson who were registered could not submit their drawings to council and instead relied on architects to sign their drawings first.

“The costs will definitely be transferred to those who need such services,” he said. MP for Boteti North, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said with the envisaged registration, he foresees chances of forging certificates and said there should be proficiency test that will show that the registered architects were qualified.

He said ethical professional conduct should be strictly adhered to because Batswana were charged inconsiderably; noting that charges should be stipulated in the professional conducts. ENDS