<span style="color: #222222;">Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa laid the foundation stone for new parliament yesterday, to be built with Chinese funds outside the capital Harare.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">  </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The imposing circular complex will be built over 32 months by the Shanghai Construction group at Mount Hampden, north-west of Harare, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation reported.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr. Mnangagwa said that China had provided a grant, not a loan, to build the new parliament. Other facilities like banks, hotels will also be built around it, he added and a "modern, smart city" was planned.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mnangagwa took over from long-time ruler Robert Mugabe who was ousted by the military in November 2017.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">China has funded and provided loans for many infrastructure projects across Africa in recent years, ranging from roads and power plants to sports stadiums and government institutions.</span><br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Critics say China's increasing sway over the continent undermines democracy and sovereignty.</span><br />