Epitomising magnificence, the imposing six-storey circular Parliament Building in Mount Hampden sitting on a 70-metre platform above the picturesque surrounding area, symbolically projecting legislative supremacy, is now 100 percent complete, and ready for handover.
Breath-taking furnishings and top-notch equipment for
offices and chambers have already been installed, with only works on two other
parking lots and landscaping being outstanding, a recent visit to the site has
shown.
Royalty greets the visitor from the main entrance of the
superstructure, where two water fountains, inspired by one of the Seven Wonders
of the World, Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), the splendid Victoria
Falls, majestically tells the Zimbabwean story of beauty and an enduring legacy
of peace.
On either side of the impressive stepladders and squares
are four pillars at the top of which eight Zimbabwe birds are perched.
The construction of the building, whose concept was born in
1983 with the Kopje area in Harare as the proposed site, is being undertaken on
a six-hectare stand in Mount Hampden, about 18km north-west of Harare along Old
Mazowe Road, thus creating opportunities for a new city project.
The project was made possible by a grant from the
government of the People’s Republic of China through China-Aid. Feasibility
studies were carried out by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design
Company Limited in 2015.
It was designed by China SIPPR Engineering Group, and
Shanghai Construction Group, a global construction behemoth, was the
contractor.
The Government of Zimbabwe also expended US$2,4 million
towards enabling works to kick-start the project.
The designs for the New Parliament Building, which embody
Zimbabwean culture and heritage enshrined in the Great Zimbabwe monument were
completed and approved in October 2017. Works on the project commenced in
November 2018 and were completed on May 27, 2022.
The project, which comprises four floors on the Parliament
side and an adjacent six-storey office building, encompasses a Chamber House,
containing the 350-seat National Assembly and 100-seat Senate.
A 108-seat gallery overlooks the National Assembly, while
an 84-seat gallery overlooks the Senate. There are also 24 interpreters’ rooms
for both the National Assembly and the Senate; 12 for each House, which are
linked to the state-of-the-art public address system.
The public can follow proceedings from outside through
television sets in the civic square, which also provides a clearer view of the
building.
From the ground floor to the fourth floor on the Chamber
House building, and up to the fifth floor on the offices side, a comfy ambiance
captures the discerning visitor’s eye.
Three bridges link the Chamber House to the office building
on each of the floors from the first, second and third, making a total of nine.
Also, there are two specious and exquisitely furnished
special committee rooms, and 15 equally adorned 30-seat and 44-seat committee
rooms, connected to cutting-edge conference systems.
At least 600 well-furnished rooms, among them service
areas, VIP offices and directors’ offices are part of the offices section.
There are also bar areas for National Assembly and Senate members, a
well-equipped staff canteen, comfortably furnished dining hall, library,
storerooms, and server rooms as well as public receptions on each floor.
The building also has a press studio and conference room, a
multi-purpose hall, and when complete 800 parking bays will be available, 50 of
which reserved for VVIPs, and associated services.
High quality information technology, which has seen the
building being installed with world-class systems for conferencing,
fire-fighting, air conditioning and cooling technologies, completes the route
for excellence.
From atop the hill upon which the edifice magnificently
stands, the visitor is consumed in the serenity of the underlying environs, an
expanse that stretches to the eye’s limit, creating a feeling of déjàvu that
only comes with familiarity. It is that kind of peace and tranquil which
lingers on in the heart, and is therapeutic to the soul.
Outside, the dreamy feeling is only interrupted by the
chirping birds in the foliage yonder, and the momentary whispering of both
machinery and man.
Indeed, man has the ability to turn stone, boulder, pebble,
metal, wood, water, cement and soil into infectious beauty.
Joltingly, one is reminded of man’s ability to fashion out
his world through sheer belief and workmanship. This was made possible by a
workforce that constituted 135 Chinese experts and 350 Zimbabwean citizens.
Had it not been for Covid-19-induced delays, which have
seen the workforce at the site being scaled down in line with the World Health
Organisation guidelines on curbing the spread of the highly contagious virus,
the New Parliament Building would have been completed in April last year.
The existing Parliament Building opposite Africa Unity
Square was converted from a hotel that went broke in the 1890s, and was bought
at bargain price by the British South Africa Company’s (BSAC) administrator.
The space has since become inadequate for the current 350
legislators (including the Senate and National Assembly), and 248 secretariat
staff, as it was meant for 100 representatives.
The precinct of the new site’s proximity to Harare as well
as its geographical environs offer opportunities for growth, and present
Zimbabwe with a chance to define herself as a nation through a home-grown plan
pregnant with vast prospects for all citizens cutting across the entire gamut
of human endeavour. Herald
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