Story by ZBC Reporter
THE Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, has commended the People’s Republic of China for its deliberate preservation of historical heritage while embracing technological and political innovation, during an ongoing bilateral visit to the Asian nation.
Advocate Mudenda, who is leading a delegation comprising Honourable Webster Shamu, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Members of the same Committee, undertook a series of visits that showcased China’s rich historical legacy, cutting-edge technological advancement, and the ideological foundations underpinning its modern governance structure.
The delegation began the day with a tour of the Palace Museum, historically known as the Forbidden City, where they were taken through the intricate history of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Speaker Mudenda marvelled at the elaborate preservation efforts that have made this former imperial palace accessible to the public since 1925.
The itinerary also featured a visit to Ant Group, China’s foremost digital finance enterprise, where the Speaker took keen interest in the company’s evolution from Alipay to becoming the country’s largest payments provider.
The delegation was informed that Ant Group currently serves over 730 million monthly users. Advocate Mudenda, a staunch proponent of artificial intelligence in governance, acknowledged the group’s role in driving financial inclusion and digital transformation.
He emphasised the potential of similar innovations in advancing economic and legislative development within Zimbabwe.
Further reinforcing the ideological component of the visit, the delegation toured the Museum of the Communist Party of China, which chronicles the Party’s history since 1921. The museum features over 2 600 images and 3 500 artefacts, including Karl Marx’s handwritten manuscripts and sculptures of Marx and Engels.
The bilateral engagements culminated in a high-level meeting with His Excellency Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and senior officials from key parliamentary committees.
Both leaders reaffirmed the excellent relations between Zimbabwe and China and hailed the strategic “five-star ironclad” cooperation framework endorsed by Presidents Mnangagwa and Xi Jinping.
Speaker Mudenda expressed gratitude for China’s unwavering support to Zimbabwe, citing projects such as the New Parliament Building, airport upgrades, and energy developments. He called for enhanced parliamentary exchanges, deeper people-to-people ties, and further collaboration in areas such as renewable energy, education, and tourism.
The day’s activities concluded with a banquet hosted in honour of the Zimbabwean delegation at the Great Hall of the People.
