Chinese firm to build NUST hostels

A CHINESE firm has been awarded the tender to construct National University of Science and Technology (NUST) student hostels, the Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) has said.

In a statement, the IDBZ said Hualong Construction Private Limited, said the construction project is expected to be completed within 12 months.

"Further to approvals granted by the board of directors of the IDBZ to undertake University Students and Staff Accommodation (USSAP) Projects, we are pleased to advise that the bank has now concluded an agreement with Hualong Construction (Private) Limited for the construction of students halls of residence for NUST, Bulawayo," reads the statement.

"The contractor is in the process of mobilising for commencement of civil works at the identified project site, with the project expected to be complete within a period of 12 months from the commencement date."

The NUST project is part of the bank's $75 million project to build state of the art hostels at state universities across the country. Recently, the bank said three and four storey hostels as well as ancillary facilities, among other civil works will be done under the project.

"External works will include a guard house, landscaping, car park, water and sewer on site reticulation, storm water drainage and perimeter wall," the IBDZ said.

Last year, Treasury approved the bank's request to issue bonds of over $100 million in the next five years for it to undertake infrastructure projects.

The hostels project comes at a time when universities are facing accommodation challenges, which has seen unscrupulous landlords cashing in on desperate students.