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Ximex Mall

The National Social Security Authority says it is in the process of adjudicating tenders to demolish the Ximex Mall amid plans to eventually erect a 12-storey shopping and office complex which will be linked to the opposite up-market Joina City through a footbridge.
The Ximex Mall was closed to the public six months ago after it emerged that it had turned into a haven for criminals who traded in foreign currency and mostly stolen items which included cell phones and computer accessories.

NSSA general manager Mr James Matiza said the authority expected to have identified the winning bidder in the next two weeks.
“We expect in the next week or two to have identified people from among those that responded to the tender to demolish the building,” he said.

“In the interim we will be trying to gradually put aside some money to put up a modern building,’ he added.
Mr Matiza said while on paper the planned building was a 12-storey, the authority would start with two stories, with provision for the foundation and support pillars to take it higher at a later stage.

“We have been approached by the owner of the building diagonally across, the Joina City, who has this grand idea to put a connection at a certain height for people to walk across and back,” he said.

“The liquidity crunch facing the country may delay the project from taking off but the desire to construct is there,” he said.
Formerly a showroom for Duly’s Cars, the Ximex Mall was owned for years by business mogul Sam Levy who converted it first into a department store and then into a shopping mall.

The building was finally sold to NSSA who closed it six months ago. While it is closed and before planned development takes place, the mall has been turned into a dump with hordes of street dealers milling outside.

The street dealers toss their rubbish into the building through smashed windows.
Others get inside the building through the smashed windows to relieve themselves, amid concerns from the public at the failure by the police ensure order at the place. — New  Ziana.