Mt Hampden infrastructure boom launchpad for new city

THE infrastructure boom in and around Mount Hampden, the seat of a new city which has had fresh impetus from Zimbabwe’s hosting of the SADC Summit for Heads of State and Government in August, is the beginning of the accelerated development of a new capital.

Nemakonde Way, which connects Mt. Hampden to the highways that run into central Harare, is part of the recent construction boom that has resurrected the neighborhood, which received a major boost with the construction of the new Parliament building. Projects are being expedited in advance of the forthcoming full SADC Summit to ensure that visiting heads of state and government, along with their delegations, can navigate the Harare region and get to the Summit facilities in and around Parliament on Mount Hampden. Cabinet ministers cautioned that this is a long-term trend that would continue after the summit, providing a solid foundation for the new city.

Winston Chitando, the minister of local government and public works, stated that the Mt. Hampden development boom serves as both a springboard for a new metropolis and an infrastructure boost for the SADC summit. "I'm sure everyone is aware that a new city has been established in Mount Hampden. Numerous construction projects are planned; some have already begun, some are in the works, and some will be completed after the new city is created. You will thus discover that there is infrastructure, including the 2.8 megaliter water tank and the roads to which we have already mentioned. Minister Chitando stated, "These are structures that will service not only what we currently have, but also are in the larger plans to service the new city."

The government is optimistic that the roads can endure up to 20 years before requiring significant renovation since it has been impressed by the caliber of work produced by regional construction businesses involved in road building. Felix Mhona, the minister of transport and infrastructure development, provided clarification on the repairs, renovations, and upkeep of roads as well as their anticipated lifespan.

"When we rebuild a road, we're talking about up to 20 years of regular upkeep for that specific road. Thus, the method by which we are reconstructing and rehabilitating our roads is that we are rebuilding them such that after an additional twenty years, we will begin a process known as resealing.In order to construct roads that adhere to the criteria specified by SADC, we are also reclaiming the full stretch of Julius Nyerere Way. According to Minister Mhona, this is being done to guarantee that the amount of cargo moving along that route will match what SADC is anticipated to provide. Multinational corporations have also shown interest in helping to build the new metropolis.

Mabetex Group is a civil engineering and construction company that specializes in building mega projects. Its headquarters are in Lugano, Switzerland, and it is apparently keen to contribute to the creation of more amenities in Mt Hampden. According to the government, President Mnangagwa was impressed by the Swiss company's capabilities and that they will soon begin discussions to work on building a hotel and conference center on Mount Hampden, in addition to Zimbabwe's chanceries in four foreign missions.