malvernmugadzikwa
Debra Matabvu
A TECHNICAL TEAM from the SADC Secretariat is expected in the country on Wednesday for final inspections of Zimbabwe’s preparedness to host the upcoming 44th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, which is scheduled for next month.
The inspection team will assess the suitability and capacity of local hotels designated to host delegates attending the summit.
It will evaluate the efficiency and readiness of Harare’s transportation networks, including roads and airport facilities.
The team will also be inspecting the adequacy and functionality of the conference centre, which is designated for summit meetings and events.
The Government is presently undertaking extensive infrastructure rehabilitation and development projects ahead of the event.
Over 50 sections of roads across Harare are undergoing rehabilitation to help improve access and traffic flow within the city.
The Government is also funding the construction of 18 villas in Mt Hampden, which will serve as additional accommodation for high-level delegates.
Development of a VVIP Pavilion at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport is being finalised, while refurbishment of major hotels and conference centres in Harare is nearing completion.
Deputy Chief Secretary and National Coordinator for Flagship Programmes and Projects in the Office of the President and Cabinet Engineer Amos Marawa said the assessments were routine.
“All the venues that we need to be complete for the SADC summit are substantially complete,” he said.
“We are confident that the technical assessment team from SADC, which is visiting around July 17, will give us a clean bill of health,” he said.
“They have already given us a thumbs up.
“They are just coming to confirm that indeed everything that we have given them as a plan is already complete.”
Eng Marawa said most projects being undertaken in preparation for the summit were almost complete.
“Indeed, it is true that the target for completion of most of the infrastructure for the summit was June 30 and to date we can state categorically that most of the projects are substantially complete.
“It means some areas have been completed.
“Roads such as Julius Nyerere Way; Second Street Extension; Nemakonde Way (formerly Lomagundi Road); Old Mazowe Road, which leads to Mt Hampden and to the Parliament, are complete in terms of surfacing,” he added.
“The loop road that is going around the hill, as well as the access roads to the new Parliament building itself, the boulevard, which actually links the Parliament to the new Mazowe Road, as well as Bindura Road, has been completed in terms of surfacing.
“Most roads within the CBD (central business district) have been surfaced and we are now working on issues such as traffic lights.”
With regard to accommodation, he said most hotels were in the last stages of renovations.
“At Monomotapa Hotel, they have done the refurbishment and they are now just putting in new furniture.
“Work is going on well at Rainbow Towers . . . as you know, we were refurbishing three floors and creating an additional seven presidential suites to make them 11,” he added.
“What they are actually doing are last and final finishes in terms of things like toilet facilities, as well as some tidying of the ceilings and the electricals.
“But we are confident that by July 16, at the very latest, they should be complete.
“They have already commissioned two new elevators.”
The University of Zimbabwe, Eng Marawa added, was putting final touches at the Diamond Conference Centre, where President Mnangagwa will present a public lecture during the summit.
“There is going to be a public lecture by His Excellency at the Diamond Conference Centre at the University of Zimbabwe.
“We visited the site and work is ongoing.
“They are also substantially complete,” he said.
“Sound systems have been installed and they finished tidying, and now they are actually installing new seats.”
The team will also assess the country’s preparedness to host the SADC Industrialisation Week set for July 28 to August 2.
Online Reporter