Published: 01 November 2013

Patrick Chinamasa, Zimbabwe's Finance minister, is taking his begging bowl to China to seek budgetary support, the Daily News reported.

This emerged after a meeting held between Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo and Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Lin Lin.

Chinamasa will be travelling to China before he presents the 2014 national budget.

"Discussions over that visit are at an advanced stage with the minister (Moyo) emphasising the need for honourable Patrick Chinamasa to visit China for mobilising resources before he presents his national budget," said a top government official who attended the closed door meeting held at Munhumutapa Building yesterday.

"Preparations for the visit are being facilitated by the ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Chinamasa was unreachable for comment yesterday.

China has been one of Zimbabwe's major trading partners with investment interests straddling all important sectors of the economy.

Moyo and the Chinese ambassador also discussed how the Asian giant could help State-owned Zimpapers to acquire a state-of-the-art printing press for its Bulawayo operations.

Lin Lin told journalists after a closed-door meeting that his country was ready to assist Zimbabwe's media industry through acquisition of printing equipment and newsprint.

"I came to congratulate the minister on his appointment and to assure him that China is ready assist in the development of the media industry," he said.
- dailynews

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