News / Local
Dilapidated government buildings to get facelift
01 Jun 2012 at 05:09hrs | Views
DILAPIDATED Government buildings in Bulawayo, Gwanda and parts of Matabeleland North are set to undergo face-lifting in a bid to restore their image and operational efficiency.
This comes amid concern over the deplorable state of most Government structures across the country, which have not been maintained for many years.
Public Works Minister Gabbuza Joel Gabuza on Wednesday said all the Government buildings in the country needed urgent rehabilitation.
He, however, said due to the suppressed budget his ministry has identified priority buildings in Matabeleland region and other parts of the country.
"A majority of Government buildings that include schools, police stations, hospitals, clinics, composite offices and so on are in serious need of renovation and rehabilitation. But because the Government is not giving us adequate funding we have decided to target certain priority buildings," said Minister Gabuza.
"We are targeting structures with social impact such as hospitals, clinics and composite Government offices. In Bulawayo priority buildings include Mhlahlandlela Government Complex, Old Memorial Building, Drill Hall and Mpilo Central Hospital. At
Mhlahlandlela we are working on repairing elevators, tiles and the plumbing system. A total of $900 000 has been availed for Mpilo and the contractor has been engaged," said Minister Gabuza.
"We are also targeting the Bulawayo Tredgold Building, which houses magistrates' courts. All district hospitals and clinics countrywide are given priority. The exercise involves painting, repainting and general maintenance.
"The programme also covers rehabilitation of senior civil servants' houses and at the moment we are working on district administrators' houses in Binga and Inyathi in Matabeleland North. In Matabeleland South, Gwanda Provincial Hospital is our major target and we are working on repairing the laundry equipment and incinerators."
Minister Gabuza said the Ministry of Finance has allocated only $3 million for maintenance work for the 10 provinces adding that the funds were too little compared to the amount of work on the ground.
"The resources are too little compared to the work load on the ground. Most Government buildings have not been maintained for more than five years and we are far behind. I cannot tell how much we need altogether because that depends on the individual project after making a bill of quantities," he said.
Last year the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare condemned a number of Government buildings in Bulawayo, saying the structures were posing a serious health hazard to occupants and members of the public.
Among the condemned buildings was the provincial Registrar General's Office, popularly known as KoMsitheli, and the Government Dental Clinic.
The buildings did not have functional toilets and other sanitary convenience facilities and were found not in a position to deal with fire outbreaks as fire extinguishers were last serviced in 1992.
This comes amid concern over the deplorable state of most Government structures across the country, which have not been maintained for many years.
Public Works Minister Gabbuza Joel Gabuza on Wednesday said all the Government buildings in the country needed urgent rehabilitation.
He, however, said due to the suppressed budget his ministry has identified priority buildings in Matabeleland region and other parts of the country.
"A majority of Government buildings that include schools, police stations, hospitals, clinics, composite offices and so on are in serious need of renovation and rehabilitation. But because the Government is not giving us adequate funding we have decided to target certain priority buildings," said Minister Gabuza.
"We are targeting structures with social impact such as hospitals, clinics and composite Government offices. In Bulawayo priority buildings include Mhlahlandlela Government Complex, Old Memorial Building, Drill Hall and Mpilo Central Hospital. At
Mhlahlandlela we are working on repairing elevators, tiles and the plumbing system. A total of $900 000 has been availed for Mpilo and the contractor has been engaged," said Minister Gabuza.
"We are also targeting the Bulawayo Tredgold Building, which houses magistrates' courts. All district hospitals and clinics countrywide are given priority. The exercise involves painting, repainting and general maintenance.
"The programme also covers rehabilitation of senior civil servants' houses and at the moment we are working on district administrators' houses in Binga and Inyathi in Matabeleland North. In Matabeleland South, Gwanda Provincial Hospital is our major target and we are working on repairing the laundry equipment and incinerators."
Minister Gabuza said the Ministry of Finance has allocated only $3 million for maintenance work for the 10 provinces adding that the funds were too little compared to the amount of work on the ground.
"The resources are too little compared to the work load on the ground. Most Government buildings have not been maintained for more than five years and we are far behind. I cannot tell how much we need altogether because that depends on the individual project after making a bill of quantities," he said.
Last year the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare condemned a number of Government buildings in Bulawayo, saying the structures were posing a serious health hazard to occupants and members of the public.
Among the condemned buildings was the provincial Registrar General's Office, popularly known as KoMsitheli, and the Government Dental Clinic.
The buildings did not have functional toilets and other sanitary convenience facilities and were found not in a position to deal with fire outbreaks as fire extinguishers were last serviced in 1992.
Source - TC
