GOVERNMENT has missed the deadline for the completion of the 18 state-of-the-art presidential villas in Mt Hampden supposed to host heads of State and government during the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) summit slated for tomorrow.
This has seen government officials in last-ditch efforts to seek alternative shelter for the leaders at three hotels in the capital, NewsDay has learnt.
The government hired a Swiss company which brought in 500 workers and splurged millions of United States dollars importing materials from the United Arab Emirates in a race to complete the villas before the summit.
When NewsDay visited the construction site in Mt Hampden yesterday, workers were busy working just two days before the summit.
Several heads of State and government, including Presidents Nangolo Mbumba (Namibia), Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi) and Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane (Lesotho Prime Minister), arrived yesterday.
Deputy chief secretary and national co-ordinator for flagship programmes and projects in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Amos Marawa, who is overseeing the construction of the villas, did not answer calls.
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However, sources in government said the visiting leaders were likely to stay at Hyatt Regency (formerly Meikles Hotel), Rainbow Towers and Monomotapa Hotel.
“This is not the first time Zimbabwe has hosted a summit of that magnitude. We have hotels in the country that will accommodate VVIPs who are coming for the summit,” said the source.
In May, Marawa, told the State media that 500 engineers from Mabetex Group, a Swiss civil engineering and construction company, will be complemented by 300 local artisans.
Mabetex specialises in large-scale construction projects and has experience putting up and renovating historical buildings, administrative and public buildings as well as industrial plants. It also boasts expertise in urban development projects, it was reported.
Marawa, back then, said they expected construction of the villas to be completed by mid-July, well ahead of the summit.
“And from the programme, they have told us a villa will take two days to erect. They will have six teams working in parallel,” the government top engineer was quoted as saying.
“So, we are confident that they will be able to finish the whole process ahead of the summit. As I said, by mid-July, they should be able to hand us the keys and we will be ready to host our VVIPs when they come for the summit itself.”
Speaking during post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, Information minister Jenfan Muswere did not give an update on the presidential villas.
He, however, said among critical infrastructural projects completed were the three main access routes to the New Parliament Building, Harare-Chirundu Highway, Harare-Kanyemba Highway and the road leading to the New Parliament Building.
“The section of the Harare-Kanyemba Road between Harare Drive and Eskbank tollgate and Gwebi River Bridge was opened to traffic on August 7, 2024,” Muswere said.
He added that Boulevard Road, a key route within this network, was officially inaugurated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on August 9.
Muswere said the VVIP lounge at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport had been completed, fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.
He added that the VVIP pavilion access road was operational, with the Airport Road undergoing significant improvements.
“The remarking of the Airport Road has been completed, barriers have been repainted and damaged kerbstones have been replaced,” he said.
Additionally, the Air Zimbabwe hangar has been repainted, contributing to the airport’s refreshed and modern appearance.
The City of Harare has been tasked with accelerating the installation of traffic lights at key intersections and improving streetlighting along major roads.
“Flag hoisting on light poles along Airport Road, the central business district, Nemakonde Way and Seke Road is largely complete,” he said.
To ensure an uninterrupted water supply to the New Parliament Building and surrounding areas, a 2,8 megalitre water reservoir has been constructed, supported by 14 recently drilled boreholes.
“The construction of an 11kV dedicated feeder has been completed to guarantee uninterrupted power supply to the New Parliament,” Muswere said, adding that a 4MVA 33/11kV transformer had been installed and commissioned.
In preparation for the influx of delegates, a stable and high-speed internet service provided by three internet service providers has been established at the New Parliament Building and all official summit-related venues, including Zimbabwe’s international airports.
“All designated accommodation facilities have been finalised and medical facilities, including clinics with ambulances and fire tenders, have been set up at Parliament to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees,” Muswere said.
The Sadc summit, an annual event that brings together leaders from southern Africa, is set to take place in Mt Hampden, with Zimbabwe taking over the rotational chairmanship from Angola.