by Innocent Mujeri
The new Zimbabwe Parliament Building being constructed in Mount Hampden is taking recognisable shape with ceiling work almost complete.
The building that is being undertaken on a 6-hectare stand is designed to accommodate all members of the National Assembly and Senate in comfort.
Giving an update on the construction of the New Parliament Building on their Twitter handle, @aid- china ,the contractors said ceiling work for the building has already commenced.
“Ceiling work for the Senate, which will be followed by immaculate decorations has started. We continue to forge ahead with the construction of a modern New Parliamentary Building despite Covid-19 induced challenges ,” said the contactors.
Structural works on the building is now 100% complete. Only internal and external endeavours to enhance the beauty of the structure and make it usable remain.
The massive six-storey parliamentary building which is being built on a budget of US$100 million China Aid free grant, will have a 1000-seater banquet room, a 350-seater House of Assembly Chamber ,a 350-seater Senate chamber, offices, media centre, boardrooms, parking space, 12 committee rooms and many other facilities.
The building will also have flats for members representing non-Harare constituencies, saving large sums on allowances.
In a previous interview, the Shanghai Construction Group company project manager Mr Cai Libo said they are working at an amazing speed so that the building will be ready for occupation by March next year.
The new Parliament building is a testimony to the cordial bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and China, which date back to the liberation struggle.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe- China relations continue to bear fruits as yesterday the city of Xinyu in China's Jiangxi Province, donated medical supplies to Mutare City. The medical supplies include 12,000 disposable surgical masks and 2,000 KN95 masks.
China has been Zimbabwe’s all weather friends since the days of the liberation struggle and it has assisted Zimbabwe in many aspects that include construction, health ,education among many other areas.
