Construction of the new building to house the office of the Registrar-General is expected to be finished by April next year, an official said on Wednesday. Construction of the building started in July 1997 and was scheduled to be finished by 2000 but failed due to the ever-increasing inflation. Work on the building resumed in September 2011.

Public Works permanent secretary Engineer George Mlilo told New Ziana that completion of building depends largely on the release of funds from the Treasury

"The new Registrar-General's building is expected to be completed by April 2013 provided the contractors are paid in due time," he said.

Eng Mlilo said the superstructure and about 80 to 90 percent of finishing works had been completed.

"Various finishing works such as mainly plastering, paving, painting, iron monger glazing, sprinkler and fire installation, kitchen equipment, floor covering, partitioning, wall cladding, electrical installation and civil works are yet to be completed on the building," he said.

About US$8,1 million is required to complete the construction works while about US$6,3 million has been used so far.

The new building would also house the Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

New Ziana