President set to deliver SONA at New Parliament Bu...

President set to deliver SONA at New Parliament Building

Zim Now Writer

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to deliver his annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) today when he officially opens the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

The President will address a joint sitting of both the National Assembly and Senate at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden constructed under a Chinese grant as a way of strengthening relations between the two nations.

The SONA is expected to touch on the accomplishments, difficulties, vision and the legislative agenda of government in the aftermath of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament’s conclusion.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana tweeted that the event is not the official opening of the building.

“The official opening of the building will happen on a day to be announced in the future,” he said.

The SONA will be the first time the R3,6 billion building, built by the Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) and funded by the Chinese government, opens for business.

There’s a six-storey building for government offices, and a four-storey structure that will house the Senate and National Assembly.

The buildings lie on 33 000 square metres in Mount Hampden, a satellite city under construction about 20km from Harare.

There are 15 committee rooms, a conference centre and 600 offices to be occupied by parliamentarians and supporting staff.