Zimbabwean government officials met with officials from the Chinese Embassy over the queried figures captured in the 2020 Zimbabwe National Budget Statement.
Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister revealed the outcomes of a cordial meeting between the Chinese Embassy and the Zimbabwean government in a press statement.
“The two sides have reached an agreement on the facts and figures contained in the Statement issued by the Embassy on the 19th of November 2019 and the 2020 National Budget Statement,” he says.
“The two sides agreed to continue working on a common accounting mechanism.”
The Minister also added that the Zimbabwe Government appreciates and acknowledges support and assistance from the Chinese Government.
China has assisted Zimbabwe through projects which include the upgrading of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport; the new parliament building, rehabilitation of Hwange 7 and 8, Cyclone Idai, Mahusekwe District Hospital, food aid and also borehole drilling programme.
“Further, the People’s Republic of China has provided the Republic of Zimbabwe with Loans and Grants for other projects,” Ncube said.
“The Government of Zimbabwe appreciates the support it continues to receive from its all-weather friend, the People’s Republic of China and acknowledges the determination of China to develop closer cooperation with Zimbabwe.”
Chinese Embassy disputed figures released in Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube’s 2020 National Budget stating that the figure is different from the actual situation on the ground.
The budget presented by the Finance Minister to the Parliament in the presence of President Emmerson Mnangagwa shows that Zimbabwe through bilateral channels received US$3,631,500 from China, but the Asian Embassy argues that it is actually US$136.8 million.
Such A figure does not include the other bilateral supports such as the expense of expert assistance, Embassy’s donations to local vulnerable groups according to the Chinese envoy to Zimbabwe.