The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has been allocated Z$10-trillion in the 2008 national budget for the construction of the new Parliament building, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The contractor — Chinese company Nantong International — is already on site, the report said.
The ministry had requested Z$15-trillion for the Parliament to be built in the Kopje area.
Giving evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the post-budget analysis, acting chief accountant in the ministry Gibson Mangwiro was optimistic that the new Parliament building would take shape next year, the government mouthpiece said.
”We were allocated $10-trillion. We had requested $15-trillion. Generally the allocation was fair and if inflation does not increase the ministry will achieve its objectives,” Mangwiro said.
He told the committee, chaired by Zanu-PF Makoni East legislator Shadreck Chipanga, that designs for the new Parliament had already been completed and paid for.
”The contractor is already on site. The $10-trillion is for civil works and for construction to take off,” added Mangwiro.
Mangwiro said the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs was responsible for the construction while the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development would provide the required expertise.
The new Parliament will accommodate 210 House of Assembly members and 84 senators. – Sapa