New Parliament official commissioning set for later date

Harare – Wednesday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the new Parliament building in Mt Hampden does not mark the official opening of the facility, with such an occasion being reserved for a later date, Parliament said on Tuesday.
The SONA will also coincide with the official opening of the fifth session of the ninth Parliament, but the official commissioning of the multi-million dollar facility will be held later.
“Members of the public are kindly advised that tomorrow’s event is not the official opening of the new Parliament Building. It is the official opening of the 5th session of the 9th Parliament, and delivery of SONA by H.E Dr @edmnangagwa. Official opening to be held in due course,” Parliament tweeted.
In his SONA, anticipated to begin at midday, President Mnangagwa is expected to highlight some of the government’s achievements and challenges, while also laying out its vision in pursuit of the country’s development agenda.
He is also expected to set the legislative agenda of the last session of the ninth Parliament before the 2023 harmonised elections.
The following day, the new Parliament will host Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube as he presents the 2023 national budget.
Analysts contend that when Ncube presents the national budget, three things will be uppermost on his mind: maintaining current investor confidence, ensuring stable exchange rates and keeping a tight lid on inflation.
Funded by the Chinese government as a gift and constructed by the Shanghai Construction Group Company, the new parliament building is one of the fruits of China-Africa cooperation, aimed at strengthening friendship and solidarity between the people of Zimbabwe and China.
The building, which President Mnangagwa described as a majectic and landmark piece of work, comprises four floors on the Parliament side and six floors on the office building side.
Three bridges on each floor link the two buildings.
The National Assembly can accommodate 400 people, while the Senate chamber seats 150.
It also has conferencing facilities, 15 committee rooms, staff office space, and a car parking area.
The office building has 600 rooms that would house Members of Parliament and employees.
Completion of the new parliament building, also heralds the birth of a new capital city as the Zimbabwean government plans to put up off-site infrastructure such as residential areas, shopping centers and access roads to establish a self-contained new city to decongest the capital Harare.
The government also plans to put up structures for two other arms of the state – the executive and the judiciary in Mt Hampden.