Zimpapers Logo

Herald Reporter
A Chinese team of engineers is carrying out feasibility studies on the site of the proposed US$150 million new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden.

The eight-member delegation started engaging with the Government last Monday and visited the construction site and viewed parliamentarians in session.

The construction of the new Parliament Building is part of the mega deals that President Mugabe signed when he went to China in August.

Secretary for Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Engineer George Mlilo said the team was on a fact-finding mission on how the building could be constructed.

“The funding for the development is a grant from China.

“Before that money is released, the Chinese are here on a fact-finding mission to concretise the grant and assesses whether the Zimbabwean Government is ready for it.

“We are ready, considering the overcrowding we are having at the current premises (along Nelson Mandela Avenue).

“The grant amount is not yet concluded but our request was US$150 million. The construction will take about five years including the off-site infrastructure, which are the major link roads, water and electricity supplies,” he said.

Engineer Mlilo said Mt Hampden was the place identified for construction.

“The way it is positioned is on the kopje so that it must stand high so the only area suitable for it is Mt Hampden.

“The building will allow other ancillary developments to go with it in the form of houses and offices for parliamentarians,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, the Chinese leader of delegation, senior structure engineer Mr Zijun Zhang, said his government had pledged to support the construction of the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden.

Mr Zijun said they were on a fact-finding mission and his team had taken time to visit the site and had a meeting with the physical planners.

“The main focus of the trip is to do a feasibility study then compile the report that we will take back to the Chinese government.

“We have realised that the Zimbabwean Government has their design and we are quite interested in making sure they deliver,” he said.

Lawmakers are housed in the city centre at a rented building owned by the Anglican Church, but the building has proved to be small for the 400-member strong Parliament composed of the National Assembly and the Senate.

The new proposed Parliament Building would be erected on a 240-hectare plot and is expected to bring infrastructure development to Mashonaland West province.