WASHINGTON - The Zimbabwe ministry of Information has moved to clarify that Beijing will not be handing over the new parliament it built for Zimbabwe on Wednesday though President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to deliver the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the newly-built six-storey building.
Mr. Mnangagwa will also officially open the Fifth session of the 9th session of parliament.
Deputy information minister Kindness Paradza told VOA Zimbabwe Service that Beijing will not handover the new building to Harare on Wednesday as earlier reported.
He said Wednesday is just “a test run” before the building is handed over to Harare early next year.
“The official handover of the building is likely to be done in February next year and not now.”
In another interview with the state-leaning Herald newspaper, Information Permanent Secretary, Nick Mangwana, said, "His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa will deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the New Parliament Complex in Mt Hampden on 23/11/22 (today), he said.
He said, “Please note, this is not the official opening of the building. That will happen on a day to be announced in the future.”
Finance minister Professor Mthuli Ncube is also expected Thursday to present the national budget at the new parliament.
The Shanghai Construction Group Company built the state of the art 33, 000 square meter, six-storey, 650 seat parliament using a Chinese grant to Zimbabwe amounting to US$200 million.