Before an engineering or building contractor starts work, they require consents and approvals from certain offices or departments. All engineers in Zimbabwe must be registered with the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe under the terms of the Engineering Council Act [Chapter 27:22] before they can perform any works.
Projects require the following approvals, which may be obtained by the contractor or the owner:
- First, the project would need approval from the Inspector of Factories (if it is a commercial factory) under the terms of the Factories and Works Act (Chapter 14:08). The process takes approximately one month. Approval of the construction plan is then sought from the local authority for approvals, under the Regional Town and Country Planning Act and the model building by laws. The application must be accompanied by a completed set of plans for the structure, prepared by a qualified draftsman or architect, the building permit application, the application for the factories’ inspection, the form for the planning permit where required and the architects' and structural engineers' drawings and certificates. Before a plan is approved, the local authority would ordinarily circulate the request to most of the departments that are related to the proposed construction. For example, Chemical Laboratory and Trade Waste, Department of Works, Land Survey and Valuation among other departments. This process takes about 4 weeks. Harare City Council recently introduced a foreign currency fee schedule for all payments connected to construction, with effect from 1 September 2022. The council submission fee differs and depends on whether it is for residential property, industrial property or commercial property. The current submission fees are as follows: general minimum charge, US$343; high density, US$343 for a single-storey structure; low density US$505 for a single-storey structure and US$675 per square metre for a double storey; commercial and industrial, US$773 for a single storey and US$2526 for a double storey.
- The Building Inspectorate then inspects the building upon completion of the building’s foundation. The process ordinarily takes approximately one month.
- A second inspection by the Building Inspectorate upon completion of drainage installation is then sought. This process normally takes one business day.
- Upon completion of the structure there will be a further inspection by the Building Inspectorate. This normally takes about two weeks to obtain .
- Upon completion of the construction, a final inspection from the Building Inspectorate will be conducted. This process will normally take one month.
- The next stage would be to request and obtain:
- A water and sewage connection from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority in rural areas and from the relevant City Council in urban areas. For example, in Harare this will be Harare City Council. This process will take up to 2 weeks . A Harare City Council water and sewage connection currently costs US$106 for high density residential areas and US$420 for low density residential areas. The costs for industrial/commercial property is US$1015.
- A connection to the national electricity grid from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) for a minimum cost of approximately US$632 in administration fees and US$507 for a metre (to the extent that no new wiring, meters and transformers require being purchased and installed otherwise the costs can exceed US$1139.
- Finally, the occupancy certificate from the City of Harare would be obtained. This process will normally take one or two months.
- The permit for the development or a deed of registration may specify certain works that require consents and approvals before commencement.
