Zimbabwe Defence College nears completion

This article was written by Our reporter on 1 February, at 01 : 14 AM

Print

Zimbabwe Defence College nears completion

THE building of the Zimbabwe Defence College which was approved by both houses of Parliament in Zimbabwe is nearly complete.

The college is being built with a 20-year US$98 million loan agreement between Zimbabwe and China.

The college is being built along Mazowe Road in the capital city, Harare.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Xin Shungkang (pictured above) says the project will be completed well before the planned schedule and will be handed over to government in May this year.

The multi-million dollar project is an institution of higher learning for defence studies and other ministries.

The complex includes a parade square facing a fountain at the entrance, office blocks, lecture theatres and a magnificent stadium for various sporting activities as well as a gymnasium.

Ambassador Shungkang, who has been nominated as diplomat of the year in Zimbabwe as well as the best Asian envoy in the country, said the complex is 85 percent complete and the project is an excellent symbol of co-operation between Zimbabwe and China.

Some SADC defence officials have expressed admiration of the project, saying the facility will benefit the region as a whole.

The project received cross-party support.

President Mugabe and MDC-T leader, prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai, defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa attended the ground breaking ceremony at the site of the college back in 2010.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti, who is the MDC-T party’s secretary-general, signed the loan agreement on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe.