Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
Wallace Ruzvidzo-Herald Reporter
Speaking after conducting an aerial tour to monitor the progress of construction works at the Mount Hampden Conference Centre, roads and Presidential Villa sites, which are being constructed ahead of the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in August, the President yesterday said he was confident that Zimbabwe would host a successful event.
Further, he said he did not doubt that construction works would be completed on time.
“I am satisfied that they are going to complete the construction of villas, which are meant to facilitate accommodation for Heads of State.
Zimbabwe, said President Mnangagwa, was working flat out to host the regional bloc’s Heads of State in an “environment never seen before”.
“Zimbabwe is a member of SADC and summits are held by member states so there is nothing that is exceptional for Zimbabwe hosting the SADC summit, but we are privileged that this year Zimbabwe has been chosen to host the summit.
“This is why we are working 24 hours a day to make sure we host SADC, here, in an environment never seen before and I believe that,” said the President as he shared a lighter moment with the press.
“I have told them (engineers) that I want a super Dubai here, my vision is to produce a new city that is better than Dubai so our children should not be going to Dubai, they should be coming to see the new city, the ED new city.
“The boulevard from Parliament to Mazowe Road, as you fly, the shape is already out and I have no doubt that very soon it will be completed.
“This is one of the roads in the country that will be so beautiful, the design of the road, the beautification around it has been explained to me, it will be a wonder,” said President Mnangagwa.
In an interview after the President’s tour, Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) board chairman, Dr George Manyaya, said they were working tirelessly to ensure all road works around Mt Hampden met set deadlines.
The works, however, were not hindering the progress of other road projects across the country.
“As Zinara we are mandated to collect funds and we must ensure that we also disburse the funds. We would like to confirm that together with Treasury and the Ministry of Transport, we are working to ensure that there is adequate funding for these projects so that we meet the deadlines.
“We are collecting and disbursing as we go, but this project is not affecting the operational issues we are doing with other road authorities, everyone who is bringing their certificates, we are disbursing funds,” Dr Manyaya said.
At the summit, Zimbabwe will assume the chairmanship of the regional body.
SADC is a regional economic community bloc comprising 16 member states, namely; Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The President was accompanied by VP Mohadi, cabinet Ministers and other Government officials.
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