China to build Zimbabwe's new parliament

A special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mr Zhang Ming has delivered a special message to President Robert Mugabe and presented to him the construction plans for the new Parliament of Zimbabwe building.

Speaking after a closed door meeting with Mugabe at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare today, Mr Ming construction should begin as soon as the Zimbabwean government approves the construction plans.

Accompanied by Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Foreign Affairs officials, the Chinese envoy also announced that China is donating the new parliament which will be situated in Mt Hampden, just outside Harare.

The agreement is part of several other mega-deals signed last year when the Chinese President visited the country.

With the current Parliament Building in Harare having become small, the new building is expected to house over 210 legislators.

The Chinese government also announced a further donation of food aid to Zimbabwe in the form of rice worth US$27 million.

Zimbabwe and China share close cooperation in various spheres of development on bilateral and multilateral levels.

Among other bilateral projects, China has provided funding for the upgrading of Hwange Power Station and has built schools and clinics across the country.

Zimbabwe will also benefit from the US$60 billion given to Africa during the FOCAC Summit held in South Africa last year.