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Maxwell Tapatapa Herald Reporter

ZIMBABWE will soon receive a large injection of technology for mushroom farmers to upgrade their business and to bring many more into the sector, along with ¥20 million (approx. US$2,736 million) worth of extra food assistance from China.

The pledged aid was announced at the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden yesterday by Chinese government head of delegation and Vice Chairman of China International Development Co-operation Agency, Mr Tang Wenhong.

He said this after signing exchange letters worth close to US$5 million, with Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.

The agreements are aimed at supporting food and nutrition in Zimbabwe.

Said Mr Tang: “Chinese President Xi Jinping is highly concerned about food security in Zimbabwe. So, he made a special arrangement to deliver another ¥20 million (approx. US$2,736 million) worth of emergency food assistance to Zimbabwe.

“In the meantime, we are providing technical assistance of technology to Zimbabwe. Technology has great advantages.

“It can serve as a nutrition base for growing mushrooms. Besides, it can help to cope with desertification.”

Mr Tang said together with Prof Ncube, they discussed more areas of co-operation between the two friendly countries.

Prof Ncube said they exchanged letters with the Chinese government mainly in the two areas of Juncao technology, which is a technology that will assist in the growing of mushrooms in rural areas.

It has some drought resistance technology that comes with it.

“So it is very good in the face of climate change challenges. There is also a food assistance programme for which, again, we signed exchange letters and again, we appreciate the assistance that we are getting from China.

“But really that was not the entirety of the discussion; we went beyond that. We also discussed this beautiful Parliament (Building), how it will be enhanced.

“We also discussed how they could support the upgrading of the National Railways of Zimbabwe so that it can get back to its prime where it used to be a pillar of logistics within the region,” said Prof Ncube.

He added that the meeting also emphasised the importance of completing various projects on time.

“We were also able to talk about other projects. We have got the RG Mugabe International airport now open. It’s working well and also the Victoria Falls International Airport, among other projects”.

Prof Ncube said going forward, Zimbabwe and China will have to co-operate and look at other areas of mutual benefit in terms of investment.