Zanu PF Mashonaland East chairman Joel Biggie Matiza’s Studio Artsinc scooped first prize in a Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) sponsored architectural design competition which the energy sector watchdog plans to use to build its head-office in Harare’s Mt Pleasant suburb.
BY RICHARD CHIDZA
Matiza has designed several other government and state-owned enterprises buildings across the country.
Institute of Architects of Zimbabwe (IAZ) president, Arthur Matondo, the competition was an eye-opener and the sector could do better with more.
“We need such competitions because they will help sharpen thinking and creativity in the sector. We have not had any such competitions in almost 10 years now but they are a necessity,” he said.
Matondo said Studio Artsinc Architects won top prize followed by Pearce McComish Tarabuku architects. The second runner-up was Amandiz Architects.
“The environment is very tough because there is not much construction going on,” he said.
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Matondo said most of the competitors were practitioners. Like other sectors, Zimbabwe’s construction sector has suffered under the weight of the country’s economic meltdown, with little business going around.
In response to questions from NewsDay, Zera chief executive officer, Gloria Magombo said the energy regulator has acquired a “piece of land in Mt Pleasant Business Park, where it intends to build its offices”.
“Zera sponsored a competition for the architectural design of the proposed offices through the Institute of Architects of Zimbabwe. The IAZ drafted the terms of the competition according to its rules and regulations (including setting up) a panel of independent judges with diverse backgrounds to conduct the adjudication,” the power regulator said.
Magombo could not be drawn into revealing figures for the construction of the plush offices.
