Story by Chantay Ruswa
THE Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, is in Beijing for a five-day official bilateral parliamentary visit to the People’s Republic of China. The visit follows an invitation from His Excellency Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China.
The mission seeks to enhance parliamentary diplomacy and deepen legislative cooperation between Zimbabwe and China.
Speaker Mudenda is accompanied by a delegation of Members of Parliament from the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, including its Chairperson, Honourable Webster Shamu, as well as Honourables Labanny Munemo, Auxilia Dhanzi, Basilia Majaya, and Jabulani Hadebe.
The visit comes amid growing bilateral cooperation between Zimbabwe and China, particularly in infrastructure development. Notably, this includes the recent relocation of Zimbabwe’s Parliament to the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden, a project completed with support from China.
Speaker Mudenda’s itinerary includes meetings with senior Chinese legislators and tours of major Chinese enterprises such as Ant Group, China Railway International Group, and Gansu Construction Investment Group.
The delegation is also expected to visit key agricultural and renewable energy initiatives, including the Nantan Photovoltaic Power Generation Project in Guangzhou District.
In addition to economic engagements, the programme features cultural diplomacy activities, with planned visits to the Palace Museum and the Museum of the Communist Party of China, underscoring the historical and cultural ties between the two nations.
The visit marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Zimbabwe and China, and both countries are expected to reaffirm their commitment to mutual respect, sovereignty, and shared development objectives.
This is Speaker Mudenda’s first visit to China in his capacity as head of Zimbabwe’s Parliament and is widely regarded as a milestone in strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and advancing Zimbabwe’s legislative diplomacy on the global stage.
