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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Government secured substantial commitment from the Chinese Government to fund bankable projects in several sectors of the economy during a recent State visit by President Mugabe to the Asian country, the National Assembly heard yesterday.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the Chinese Government made a commitment to fund infrastructural projects in power generation, dualisation of roads, road and railway rehabilitation and water and sanitation, among other projects.
Minister Chinamasa said this while responding to questions in the National Assembly.
Musikavanhu MP, Mr Prosper Mutseyami (MDC-T), had asked what Government had got in terms of financial support from the Chinese trip in which President Mugabe signed several deals that Zimbabwe clinched.
“It will require the whole day for me to explain. What we have been able to achieve was serious engagement with the Chinese authorities. We got a commitment from the highest authority to fund bankable and viable projects,” said Minister Chinamasa.
Binga North MP Mr Prince Sibanda (MDC-T) sought to know if there was any cash from the deals.
“China does not give budgetary support to any country. It is interested in giving infrastructural support.
“We came back with commitment that they are prepared to fund bankable projects,” said Minister Chinamasa.
He denied allegations that the Chinese were in the habit of bringing their own labour, sidelining locals whenever they secured a project to work on.
Responding to another question, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi, commended churches that recently held mega conventions in Harare, among them Jehovah’s Witnesses, saying they enhanced the concept of religious tourism.
He said the events also showed that there was need as a country to uplift infrastructure in order to host such mega events, particularly accommodation.
Makoni South MP, Cde Mandi Chimene (Zanu-PF), had said the events convened by Jehovah’s Witness and United Methodist Church saw Members of Parliament being denied accommodation at hotels as they preferred those with ready cash.
Minister Mzembi said Zimbabwe recorded a boom in tourist arrivals during the period when these religious conventions were being held.
“They were a shining example of religious tourism. I wish these new churches in our country with prophets could fill our hotels as well when they hold their conventions,” said Minister Mzembi.
He said he would be passing through the headquarters of one of them in New York next week to convey his gratitude for their support en-route to his business trip.
Minister Mzembi said his Ministry had started making preparations to bid to hosting the Fifa soccer World Cup in 2034 and one of the effort was to ensure that Zimbabwe hosts the African Cup of Nations final in 2017 after Libya withdrew owing to civil strife in that country.
Online Reporter