The Zimbabwean Parliament has announced plans to secure residential stands for legislators and staff near the new Parliament Building in Mount Hampden. The residential stands fall under Mazowe Rural District Council.
It’s not only the legislators who will benefit from the program but also the Parliament staff.
Speaking recently, the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda said getting stands near Parliament will help eradicate various logistical challenges.
‘’Parliament On the same note, Honourable Members, we are liaising with Mazowe Rural District Council and the Ministry of Local Government in terms of the new plans for the Smart City so that the stands that belong to Mazowe Rural District Council are disaggregated accordingly and then the rest of the stands which comprise low density, high density, and medium density are within the vicinity of Mt. Hampden.
‘’There will not be any harm in getting stands here and we get rid of whatever you have got on the other side. This applies also to the staff. The staff of Parliament at the moment, have to travel 55 km one way especially those from Chitungwiza and Norton, Norton is about 65 km away.
‘’I think the ideal situation is that we have our stands around the Parliament Building,’’ he said.
Parliament wants a dedicated hotel for MPs in Mount Hampden
Meanwhile, Mudenda has revealed that Parliament might be tempted to negotiate to have a hotel specifically for MPs near Parliament.
He said that would be the ideal thing to copy the example of the Zambian Parliament.
‘’Who knows, God willing, we might also negotiate for a hotel for Members of Parliament around here in Mt Hampden so that you do not have to stay out there far away from Parliament? You ought to pray for good things– you do not want a Hotel? This will be a hotel dedicated to yourselves like what they have in Zambia. It is very ideal,’’ he said.
This is not the first time that Parliament has considered having a hotel for legislators, as a few years ago, the government acquired Quality International Hotel, renovated it, and is now being used by the Ministry of Sports, Art and Recreation.
