New Capital Hill offices ready February

Capital Hill’s new wing is expected to be ready in February 2016, more than two years after its initial deadline of July 2013.

During a tour of the project, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi on Tuesday expressed concern over the delays by the contractor to complete the five-floor office building.

Construction of the building, expected to accommodate three government ministries and other departments, started in 2010 and was scheduled to be ready for use by July 2013.

During the tour, Muluzi said government was losing a lot of money in paying rentals to private property owners hence the need to finalise the building and save.

He said: “It is my concern that this building project is taking long to finish. Government is looking forward to the completion of this project so that it occupies it and saves costs in rentals.”

However, the leading consultant for the project, Bernard Zingano, attributed the delays to cash flow, saying government at times did not release the money in time and regularly as demanded by the contractor, Delta Construction.

He assured that the contractor will finish the construction by the end of February 2016.

Muluzi also revealed government plans to build three more similar office buildings to accommodate its ministries that are renting offices around Lilongwe.

In July this year, some government ministries—notably Gender, Disability, Children and Social Welfare; Trade and Industry; Information, Tourism and Civic Education and several departments—were locked out of Gemini House at City Centre over outstanding rentals in excess of K2.9 billion.