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Construction of 'Zvimba Paradise' Stokes Controversy


The construction in Zvimba of a presidential state house, parliament building, a V-I-P villa with five star luxury hotels and a shopping mall all accessed by a massive freeway has stoked controversy as questions arise over the funding for the project.

Zvimba is president Robert Mugabe’s rural home.

According to the independent Newsday newspaper, the Local Government Ministry, which is spearheading the project, on Thursday unveiled a video detailing the construction described as the Sandton of Zimbabwe, referring to the luxury city of Sandton in South Africa.

The video, entitled 'Parliament: The centre of national government and epicentre of satelite city' clearly shows the construction of a parliament buidling surrounded by recreational parks and government offices.

What is not clear - at least to the other partners in the ruling coalition - is how the project began and sources of funding.

Public Works Minister Joel Gabhuza, who is also deputy spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) wing of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, said his ministry is unaware of the project.
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VOA Studio was unable to reach Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo, for comment.

Early this year, leader of the other MDC faction, Welshman Ncube, suggested that the new parliament be built in Bulawayo but this was spurned on the fact that there was no money.

But spokesman for his party, Nhlanhla Dube told Studio 7 that the new construction shows double standards.
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