Chronicle Editor
Sione Amidu, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has released US$1,7 million for the construction of the Gwanda Magistrate Court, 18 years later after the project stalled.
The resumption of the project, fits well into the Government’s National Development Strategy 1, which has put infrastructure development as key. A site visit by Sunday News showed that some of the construction material was already on the ground while workers have started clearing the area.
Matabeleland South Director (Public Works) Mr Sijabuliso Ncube said they were hoping construction would start soon and expressed hope that with the reputation of Hualong, the project will be completed on time. Construction is expected to be done by the end of the year.
“This project stalled in 2004 and was resumed in 2018 and stalled again due to lack of funding. The Government has indicated that they want to finish all stalled projects of which this is one of them.
The contract was awarded to Haulong last year and was supposed to resume work in November but due to other limitations the work stalled. As we speak US$1,7 million has been released to the contractor to resume work.
This is a renowned contractor which has done great works in the country, like Chinhoyi Magistrate Court and Nust student hostels. We hope that with their coming in we will be able to complete this project and will be guided by the programme of works which they will release by the week ending 29 April,” he said.
Mr Ncube said they were expecting the court to be opened by March next year.
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