Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe has disputed the 2020 budget figure of bilateral support provided by China to the Southern African nation stating that such a number is different from the actual situation on the ground.
Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube on Thursday last week presented the 2020 National budget, which shows that the Zimbabwean government through bilateral channels received US$3,631,500 from the Chinese government.
“According to our record, from January to September 2019, the actual bilateral support provided to Zimbabwe by China is 136.8 million USD,” the Embassy says.
“Such a figure does not include the other bilateral supports such as the expense of expert assistance, Embassy’s donations to local vulnerable groups and so on.”
China, however, gave some positive comments on the Ncube’s budget despite presenting a dispute on the aid support figure.
Such comments come at a time when Zimbabwe continues to enjoy the good relations that have been built by former President Robert Mugabe, who called the Asian economic giant, an “all-weather friend”.
“The Embassy appreciates the positive role the budget will play in promoting the policies and propagating the facts and figures related to the economic development of the country,” says the Embassy.
“The Embassy believes that with the efforts of Zimbabwean government and people, and with international support, Zimbabwe will achieve prosperity and development and realize the vision 2030.”
Chinese investments into Africa, in general, have been rising with $300 billion in investment currently on the table according to experts.
Critics, however, claim that such actions and investment loans to African countries are bribes to obtain access to oil and minerals.
Opposed to Chinese interests in Africa is the US Government which has in the past threatened to investigate the Asian Investment loans
“The Chinese loan you billions of dollars to build a railway or port. What countries in Africa have found out is that comes with a price,” US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on his visit to African countries in March last year.
