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The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) has announced the immediate closure of Society Business Park as a precautionary measure to safeguard human life.
NAPSA has given tenants, including Hilton Garden Hotel, 10 days to vacate the premises following the decision.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka on Tuesday, NAPSA Board Chairperson, Shipango Muteto, described the closure as a costly but necessary action to protect lives.
He explained that after the structural failure of some columns at the office block in Society Business Park in October 2019, the area was vacated.
Subsequently, NAPSA commissioned a comprehensive assessment of the park’s structural integrity in November 2023.
“The detailed report, received in July 2024, revealed that parts of the development, namely the office block and parkade, are structurally unsound and unsafe for continued occupancy,” Muteto said.
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He added that while the retail mall and hotel tower were deemed structurally sound, they require attention to address identified defects.
“The decision to close the entire business park also stems from the fact that the unsafe parkade and office block are directly linked to the hotel and retail mall through shared facilities,” Muteto stated.
He further noted that closing the parkade and office block, as recommended by consultants, would severely impact access to the mall and hotel, rendering both facilities inoperable.
All current tenants have been notified and instructed to vacate within 10 days as a safety measure.
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