Lack of architects and quantity surveyors in the country has been cited as a factor contributing to substandard construction of buildings in the country.

This was said in Dar es Salaam over the weekend by Architects and Quantity Surveyors Registration Board (AQRB) registrar Abraham Marress when the board's General Purchase subcommittee visited the proposed commercial and residential high rise building known as ‘Uhuru Heights’ at Upanga along Bibi Titi Mohamed road.

“There are only 276 architects and 156 quantity surveyors in the country. The number is too small to meet the demand countrywide,” he said.

Abraham said the aim of the visit was to see whether the contractor (Cosmos Properties) had followed regulations and complied with various laws including the immigration law, Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA), labour law and the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC).

He pointed out that it was wrong for the contractor to use a scheme design to apply for permits from the Ilala Municipal Council instead of using the project document.

The registrar said in case a contractor violated prevailing laws and regulations the board was capable of taking legal action against the architects, quantity surveyors and the developers.

Project director Zhou Zejun said Uhuru Heights would have a basement floor and 29 extra floors. All in all, he said the building would be 108.2 metres high.

Zejun said construction of the building began last December and structure construction was expected to end by 2011. He said 300 people were employed at the site, 10 of whom were from China.