Police arrest company directors for allegedly providing unlicensed architectural services (Video)

In Lusaka, police have reportedly arrested two company directors of Builders Village Limited, Dr. Brenda Bukowa and Dr. Sam Sichilamu, for providing architectural services without a practicing certificate.

They were apprehended alongside the company’s marketing manager, Deborah Mukoni, and are expected to appear in court soon.

Fidelis Kabwiri, the president of the Zambia Institute of Architects (ZIA), confirmed the arrests during a media briefing in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Kabwiri stated that the institute had filed a complaint against Builders Village Limited for allegedly offering architectural services without the required certification.

“The Zambia Police Service yesterday arrested two directors of the company, Dr. Brenda Bukowa and Dr. Sam Sichilamu, as well as marketing manager Deborah Mukoni for the aforementioned offense. The three suspects will soon face legal proceedings,” Kabwiri said.

He urged individuals seeking architectural services to verify the registration status of the individuals or firms they engage with ZIA and to request a practicing license before hiring them.

Kabwiri also expressed concern about the quality of designs for projects funded by the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), noting that some fell short of basic standards and were not sustainable in the long term.

He stated the importance of engaging experts to ensure quality and value for money in CDF projects.

“We urge the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and all local authorities to ensure that officers responsible for reviewing designs under CDF projects understand established design principles,” Kabwiri advised.

He commended the government for raising the bar CDF to K30.6 million but stressed the importance of investing in capacity building to ensure sustainability and value for money in architectural services, which are consumed over a long period of time.

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