State House of Namibia

The State House of the Republic of Namibia is the administrative capital of Namibia, as well the official residence of the President of Namibia. Located in the Auasblick suburb of Windhoek, the State House was constructed by Mansudae Overseas Projects of North Korea from September 2002 to March 2008, a total of 66 months. The administrative building cost N$ 400 million Namibian dollars.[1][2]

State House of Namibia
State House of Namibia
Alternative namesNew State House
General information
Town or cityWindhoek
CountryNamibia
Coordinates22.5913°S 17.1011°E / -22.5913; 17.1011
Construction started2002
Inaugurated21 March 2008
Design and construction
Architecture firmMansudae Overseas Projects
Fence around State House

History

The State House was designed by the North Korean company, Mansudae Overseas Projects, and built in 66 months[3][4] In September 2002, at the end of his term, Sam Nujoma, the first President of Namibia, had construction begin on the new building, to replace the old State House in the inner city,[5] because the office space in the old State House and the very inadequate parking was too small.[6]

On 21 March 2008, the Namibian President opened Hifikepunye Pohamba's house in the presence of Kim Yong-nam, chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, and the Cuban General Leopoldo Cintra Frias.[7] The presidential residence was initially not finished completely, the Cabinet Secretary had to commute between the Old State House and the new building. On 2 September 2008, the first Cabinet meeting was.[8] On 4 June 2010, the president officially moved to the new presidential residence.[9]

According to unofficial estimates, the construction cost was between 413.2 million[10] and 600 million Namibian dollars.[6] Forty Namibian subcontractors and suppliers were involved in the project. Another 100 Namibians were working on the project.[5]

Structure of the complex

The site covers 25 hectares and is bordered by a two-kilometer long steel fence. At each corner of the fence, there are dark-glassed towers and large guard rooms[5]

The administrative area consists of the Office of the President, the offices of cabinet members and 200 staff offices of the president. A guest house for visiting heads of state to state and two apartments for more state visitors is a little off, as the residence of the President. There are also garages and accommodation for police forces and security personnel. Opposite the main gate on the opposite side of the road there are two helipads. About the park-like grounds are animal replicas (e.g. kudu and elephants ) made of copper.[5]

In the entrance hall is a painting of the members of the first Namibian Cabinet, including as Sam Nujoma, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Hage Geingob, Theo-Ben Gurirab, Ben Amathila, Libertina Amathila, Hidipo Hamutenya and Gert Hanekom. Before the door to the two-storey entrance hall, a wood carving shows a representation of women from all ethnic groups in the country. On the opposite wall at this level there is a large painting of the Epupa Falls, painted in 2005 by a Korean artist.[5]

Old State House

The Old State House is located in the Robert Mugabe Avenue in the suburb of Windhoek Central, near the Church of Christ Due to its central location and close buildings, an expansion of the building was not possible, so the new State House had to be built.

On 20 July 2010, the Cabinet decided that the old state house would be used as the residence and office of the Prime Minister of Namibia.[11]

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References
  1. New State House for New Nation in AllAfrica.com via New Era, 20 March 2008 (registration required)
  2. MENGES, WERNER (June 5, 2005). "Heroes' monument losing battle". The Nambian. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  3. New State House for New Nation allafrica.com, New Era, (20. März 2008)
  4. Werner Menges (6. Mai 2005) Heroes' monument losing battle. The Namibian (abgerufen 23. Oktober 2009)
  5. Catherine Sasman (20. März 2008) New State House for New Nation. allafrica.com (abgerufen 1. November 2009)
  6. Christof Maletsky (25. März 2008) No price on 'People's House'. The Namibian (abgerufen 1. November 2009)
  7. Eberhard Hofmann (25. März 2008) Pakt mit autoritären Gästen Allgemeine Zeitung (abgerufen 1. November 2009)
  8. Brigitte Weidlich (3. September 2008) First Cabinet meeting at New State House. The Namibian (abgerufen 23. Oktober 2009)
  9. Brigitte Weidlich (13. Juli 2010) New presidential residence inaugurated Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine Die Republikein (abgerufen 14. Juli 2010)
  10. Pohambas Posten wächst az.com.na, Allgemeine Zeitung, (abgerufen 18. Dezember 2009)
  11. Premier zieht ins alte Staatshaus, 11. August 2010

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