Independent MP, Temba Mliswa (Norton) recently criticised Parliament over its failure to take legislators on a tour of the new Parliament building before the presentation of SONA and the national budget.

However, Mudenda told legislators in the National Assembly, that they had to ask for special permission to use the building for SONA and budget presentation from the Chinese government.

He said Parliament could not secure space at Rainbow Towers Hotel’s Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) for SONA. Said Mudenda:

I also have to inform the House that the new Parliament building has not yet been officially handed over to the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

A special request was made to hold the Official Opening of the Fifth Session of the 9th Parliament and State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the new Building, which was deemed a suitable venue for the occasion and the Chinese acceded to the request.

Honourable Members will be taken for a familiarisation tour once the handover has been done and Honourable Members will be informed accordingly.

Mliswa also suggested that traditional leaders should be engaged to conduct rituals at the building before it is used. | Open Parly