The construction of Zimbabwe’s new parliament buildings fully funded by the Chinese government is set to begin after Beijing released an initial tranche of the $46 million set for the project.
The new parliament is being built to replace the old one which has run short of space forcing some legislators to stand during some sessions.
Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda last week revealed that road construction works at the venue of the new Parliament building had already started after the Chinese government released the initial batch of funds for the project.
It is estimated that the construction of the new parliament will consume about $140 million.
“The Chinese Government has released $46 million for the new Parliament building in Mt Hampden and right now work has started on road construction and we hope that after between two to two and half years the new Parliament will have been completed,” Mudenda said.
“The implementers of the project are the Ministries of Transport and Infrastructural Development together with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and we hope their involvement in the project will bring the total project cost down from the initial $140 million,” he added.
