Confusion over Zim professionals
The government's plan to employ Zimbabwean architects and quantity surveyors made sense back in 2014, when it was agreed on, the professional council says.
OGONE TLHAGE
The president of the Namibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, Kevin McNamara, has defended a decision to grant 29 Zimbabwean architects and quantity surveyors exemption from professional competence examinations.
McNamara said there was nothing untoward about the exemption of the foreign professionals, who will not be required to register with the professional body immediately.
Works and transport minister Alpheus !Naruseb recently wrote to the Namibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, requesting that the registration process be expedited.
This follows an agreement signed with Zimbabwe in 2012.
Currently, the professional body requires that prospective and active architects and quantity surveyors sit for yearly assessment of professional competence exams.
It also appears that the skills transfer programme is only being utilised now despite being agreed to five years ago, Namibian Sun understands.
McNamara yesterday responded to quell the confusion and uproar !Naruseb’s letter had caused.
According to McNamara, the Ministry of Works engaged with the Namibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors in 2014 and motivated why it needed the registration of the Zimbabwean architects and quantity surveyors to be expedited.
“After much debate, the council granted this request on strict conditions,” McNamara said.
He added that strict limitations were imposed on the work of the Zimbabwean nationals in Namibia.
“They may not work in private practice or perform private work. If this is happening, the council must be informed and they will be in breach of their employment contract and the Act’s regulations,” said McNamara.
“They must attend training to ensure they learn our building contracts and laws, an item that still needs to be fully defined by the council and the department of works.”
According to him, the council also inquired into the registration of these professionals in Zimbabwe.
He said the council would most likely only be able to register those who are already registered in Zimbabwe as experienced professionals.
“Their registration is limited to only work in government, not in private sector, and only limited to their employment period,” he said.
McNamara said it was not clear why the 2014 agreement was only being implemented this year.
“Why it has taken until April 2017 to gazette is unknown by the council,” he said.
McNamara conceded that there were plenty of locally registered architects and quantity surveyors available, but said that did not mean they wanted to work for the government.
“Yes there are experienced and registered architects and quantity surveying professionals in Namibia, however, do they wish to work for the state, or for the ministry of works and transport, and have they offered their CVs to the Ministry of Works and Transport in seeking work opportunities? I think this has been brought to the ministry’s attention and will be addressed,” he said.
“This government special registration issue was agreed to back in 2014, nearly three years ago, in a very different economic climate, and this time frame aspect must be very well understood.
“At that time the majority of professionals took up work in the private sector as it was far more lucrative than state work ... and thus the Ministry of Works and Transport possibly had to seek resources from neighbouring countries in order to service capital projects throughout the whole country and not just Windhoek,” said McNamara.
He suggested that the government should revise the agreement in view of the current economic climate, which has affected many architects - an issue raised by the president of the Namibia Institute of Architects, Willem Dewulf.
“The economic climate and building industry has changed from 2014/15 and the Ministry of Works and Transport or the state must acknowledge this and possibly review this need for special registration, or foreign resources involvement,” said McNamara.
McNamara acknowledged that the situation was not beneficial to local professionals.
“Is this fair? Possibly not in light of the downturn in the Namibian economic climate and building industry now,” he admitted.
Works permanent secretary Willem Goeiemann earlier in the week defended the exemption, saying that it would add to the country’s skills base.
“It must be noted that the signed [agreement] aims to boost local technical capacity through in-service training and mentorship recognisable by local professional bodies such that the trainees are eligible for registration as full professionals in future,” Goeiemann said.
The president of the Namibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, Kevin McNamara, has defended a decision to grant 29 Zimbabwean architects and quantity surveyors exemption from professional competence examinations.
McNamara said there was nothing untoward about the exemption of the foreign professionals, who will not be required to register with the professional body immediately.
Works and transport minister Alpheus !Naruseb recently wrote to the Namibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, requesting that the registration process be expedited.
This follows an agreement signed with Zimbabwe in 2012.
Currently, the professional body requires that prospective and active architects and quantity surveyors sit for yearly assessment of professional competence exams.
It also appears that the skills transfer programme is only being utilised now despite being agreed to five years ago, Namibian Sun understands.
McNamara yesterday responded to quell the confusion and uproar !Naruseb’s letter had caused.
According to McNamara, the Ministry of Works engaged with the Namibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors in 2014 and motivated why it needed the registration of the Zimbabwean architects and quantity surveyors to be expedited.
“After much debate, the council granted this request on strict conditions,” McNamara said.
He added that strict limitations were imposed on the work of the Zimbabwean nationals in Namibia.
“They may not work in private practice or perform private work. If this is happening, the council must be informed and they will be in breach of their employment contract and the Act’s regulations,” said McNamara.
“They must attend training to ensure they learn our building contracts and laws, an item that still needs to be fully defined by the council and the department of works.”
According to him, the council also inquired into the registration of these professionals in Zimbabwe.
He said the council would most likely only be able to register those who are already registered in Zimbabwe as experienced professionals.
“Their registration is limited to only work in government, not in private sector, and only limited to their employment period,” he said.
McNamara said it was not clear why the 2014 agreement was only being implemented this year.
“Why it has taken until April 2017 to gazette is unknown by the council,” he said.
McNamara conceded that there were plenty of locally registered architects and quantity surveyors available, but said that did not mean they wanted to work for the government.
“Yes there are experienced and registered architects and quantity surveying professionals in Namibia, however, do they wish to work for the state, or for the ministry of works and transport, and have they offered their CVs to the Ministry of Works and Transport in seeking work opportunities? I think this has been brought to the ministry’s attention and will be addressed,” he said.
“This government special registration issue was agreed to back in 2014, nearly three years ago, in a very different economic climate, and this time frame aspect must be very well understood.
“At that time the majority of professionals took up work in the private sector as it was far more lucrative than state work ... and thus the Ministry of Works and Transport possibly had to seek resources from neighbouring countries in order to service capital projects throughout the whole country and not just Windhoek,” said McNamara.
He suggested that the government should revise the agreement in view of the current economic climate, which has affected many architects - an issue raised by the president of the Namibia Institute of Architects, Willem Dewulf.
“The economic climate and building industry has changed from 2014/15 and the Ministry of Works and Transport or the state must acknowledge this and possibly review this need for special registration, or foreign resources involvement,” said McNamara.
McNamara acknowledged that the situation was not beneficial to local professionals.
“Is this fair? Possibly not in light of the downturn in the Namibian economic climate and building industry now,” he admitted.
Works permanent secretary Willem Goeiemann earlier in the week defended the exemption, saying that it would add to the country’s skills base.
“It must be noted that the signed [agreement] aims to boost local technical capacity through in-service training and mentorship recognisable by local professional bodies such that the trainees are eligible for registration as full professionals in future,” Goeiemann said.
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