Zimbabwe Parliament China Security USAGM
Metadata
- Zimbabwe Parliament China Security USAGM
- June 30, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: ZIMBABWE CHINA PARLIAMENT SECURITY (TV) HEADLINE: Zimbabwe Celebrates Finish of New Parliament, Built by China TEASER: PUBLISHED AT: 06/30/2022 at 9:45am BYLINE: Columbus Mavhunga CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Mount Hampden, Zimbabwe VIDEOGRAPHER: Blessing Chigwenhembe VIDEO EDITOR: PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, DLJ VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, WhatsApp PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_ TRT: 2:30 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[The Chinese government has finished constructing Zimbabwe's new parliament building outside the capital, Harare, at a cost of about $200 million. It replaces a colonial-era building, but critics say there are concerns about security and China's growing influence. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Mount Hampden, Zimbabwe.]] ((NARRATOR)) China will soon hand over a new, six-story parliament building to the government of Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Located about an hour’s drive from the capital, Harare, China provided a $200 million dollar grant for the building, built by a Shanghai-based government-owned company. Reporters asked Cai Libo with Shanghai Construction Group about concerns that China may have bugged the new building. He reacted this way. ((Cai Libo: Shanghai Construction Group)) (Eng. 20 secs)) “((Laughter)). You know that Zimbabwe and China are all weather friends, as you know as friends, we cannot do such things to your friend. The government of Zimbabwe, will authorize the security department for a special examination for this.” ((NARRATOR)) China has been accused of bugging the Africa Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – a claim that Beijing has denied. Authorities in Zimbabwe downplayed concerns about a foreign firm constructing the new parliament. ((Engineer Henry Hungwe, Zimbabwe Parliament Project Manager) ((Eng. 20 secs)) “From my own experience and our observation from the way we started up to today, I am not worried of anything. But that’s why we say curiosity kills a cat. Let the media come and see for themselves and maybe they may pick one or two things which they think is an anomaly.” ((NARRATOR)) Alexandar Rusero, a politics professor at Africa University in Zimbabwe, says Beijing and Harare may have friendly ties but eavesdropping in Zimbabwe’s parliament building presents a serious threat. ((Alexandar Rusero, Zimbabwe Political Analyst)) (Eng. 18 secs)) ((Mandatory courtesy: WhatsApp)) “Now to have that kind of institution, that kind of infrastructure fully, wholly donated by the Chinese I think it should also lead us to wonder in as much as to where this will take us to in terms of our pride, in terms of our dignity and in terms of our much affinity in the notions of sovereignty.” ((NARRATOR)) Zimbabwe’s president has repeatedly praised China, saying its investments in the country have bolstered Harare’s independence, and government officials say the country is ready to leave behind the old colonial-era building. ((Columbus Mavhunga, for VOA News, Mount Hampden, Zimbabwe))
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: ZIMBABWE CHINA PARLIAMENT SECURITY (TV) HEADLINE: Zimbabwe Celebrates Finish of New Parliament, Built by China TEASER: PUBLISHED AT: 06/30/2022 at 9:45am BYLINE: Columbus Mavhunga CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Mount Hampden, Zimbabwe VIDEOGRAPHER: Blessing Chigwenhembe VIDEO EDITOR: PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, DLJ VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, WhatsApp PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_ TRT: 2:30 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[The Chinese government has finished constructing Zimbabwe's new parliament building outside the capital, Harare, at a cost of about $200 million. It replaces a colonial-era building, but critics say there are concerns about security and China's growing influence. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Mount Hampden, Zimbabwe.]] ((NARRATOR)) China will soon hand over a new, six-story parliament building to the government of Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Located about an hour’s drive from the capital, Harare, China provided a $200 million dollar grant for the building, built by a Shanghai-based government-owned company. Reporters asked Cai Libo with Shanghai Construction Group about concerns that China may have bugged the new building. He reacted this way. ((Cai Libo: Shanghai Construction Group)) (Eng. 20 secs)) “((Laughter)). You know that Zimbabwe and China are all weather friends, as you know as friends, we cannot do such things to your friend. The government of Zimbabwe, will authorize the security department for a special examination for this.” ((NARRATOR)) China has been accused of bugging the Africa Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – a claim that Beijing has denied. Authorities in Zimbabwe downplayed concerns about a foreign firm constructing the new parliament. ((Engineer Henry Hungwe, Zimbabwe Parliament Project Manager) ((Eng. 20 secs)) “From my own experience and our observation from the way we started up to today, I am not worried of anything. But that’s why we say curiosity kills a cat. Let the media come and see for themselves and maybe they may pick one or two things which they think is an anomaly.” ((NARRATOR)) Alexandar Rusero, a politics professor at Africa University in Zimbabwe, says Beijing and Harare may have friendly ties but eavesdropping in Zimbabwe’s parliament building presents a serious threat. ((Alexandar Rusero, Zimbabwe Political Analyst)) (Eng. 18 secs)) ((Mandatory courtesy: WhatsApp)) “Now to have that kind of institution, that kind of infrastructure fully, wholly donated by the Chinese I think it should also lead us to wonder in as much as to where this will take us to in terms of our pride, in terms of our dignity and in terms of our much affinity in the notions of sovereignty.” ((NARRATOR)) Zimbabwe’s president has repeatedly praised China, saying its investments in the country have bolstered Harare’s independence, and government officials say the country is ready to leave behind the old colonial-era building. ((Columbus Mavhunga, for VOA News, Mount Hampden, Zimbabwe))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date June 30, 2022 10:04 EDT
- Byline Columbus Mavhunga
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America