China has promised $46 million of funding to Zimbabwe for the construction of a new Parliament building, Newsweek reported.

Zimbabwe's new parliament building is being constructed on Mount Hampden, situated on the outskirts of the capital, Harare. China pledged the funds at a meeting between top Chinese officials and Zimbabwean investment minister Obert Mpofu, state-owned Herald newspaper reported.

Like Us on Facebook

Zimbabwe has a bicameral parliament system - a lower house of assembly and upper senate.  

Zimbabwe has traditionally depended on foreign aid to bail out its deeply troubled economy, with China being one of its main donors. Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to cancel Zimbabwe's $140 million debt during a visit to the African nation. Xi also pledged to invest more than $1 billion in Zimbabwe's largest thermal power plant.

Zimbabwe, over the last decade, had to endure many unforgiving challenges due to long drawn economic crisis; from the devaluation of its currency, high inflation to growing unemployment. Robert Mugabe, who has been Zimbabwe's President since 1987, is widely considered responsible for the economic crisis.

Critics argue that Mugabe's autocratic rule and the blatant corruption in his government has led to a myriad of economic and political problems for Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is often cited as one of the most corrupt countries in the world by many anti-corruption bodies and organization.

China has overlooked all the criticisms and accusations leveled against Mugabe's government and has forged a very close relationship with the African nation over the last few decades. Mugabe regularly visits China to seek financial aid and investment from Beijing.

Tagschina, China and Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, Robert Mugabe China