The name Goitsemodimo Manowe is synonymous with the professionalism of architectures in Botswana and this is because the man behind the name has been fighting for the regulation of the profession.
On Thursday members of Architects’ Registration Council (ARC) thronged Cresta Hotel to bid farewell to Manowe as their board chairperson who for over 25 years have been patiently and fervently pursuing the ideals of professional body and a regulatory authority for local architects.
He is the founding chairperson of ARC as well as Botswana Architects Association, a professional body mainly concerned with the promotion of the professional development. Manowe who is the first Motswana to register Architect Company known as Pinagare Architects said that they tried to establish regulatory council in 1992 as it was and still it is his priority to see the profession being taken serious. “People didn’t take us serious when we mooted the idea of having a regulatory council but we soldiered on until ARC was established and I believe we still have a long way to go,” he said adding that he had to pave way for others to finish the race.
The establishment of ARC according to Manowe was to bring professionalism, quality assurance and value for money to the clients as in the past it was just laisser-faire with everyone calling themselves architectures and charging exorbitant fees.
ARC was established in 2010 by the Act of Parliament of 2008 but there was some delays as the act didn’t have provision for seed funding from government. The regulatory body categorizes the architectural profession in Botswana into three categories of Architects, Architectural Technologists and Architectural Draftspersons.
Incoming chairperson Sithabile Mathe hailed Manowe as a visionary leader who ensured that architectures profession is taken serious and given the respect it needed. “We are not a social club but rather a professional body that ensure professionalism and discipline within our field of work,” she said.
Mathe who is also Vice President for Commonwealth Association of Architects Africa said that they are still going to seek advice from Manowe.