Harare , Zimbabwe ( CNN ) -- Zimbabwe 's parliament has ratified a 20-year $ 98 million loan from China to build a defense college , despite objections from members of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai 's party that the poverty-stricken country should prioritize the spending in other ways . Zimbabwe 's upper and lower houses of parliament passed the deal late Tuesday after heated debate . Shepherd Mushonga , a member of parliament from Tsvangirai 's Movement for Democratic Change party , said he was surprised that Chinese companies including Anjin Investments Private Limited -- which has interests in diamonds - had been contracted to construct the college that is being built about 20 kilometers ( 12 miles ) north of Harare . `` We are talking of a law which says 51 % of any business transaction must be for Zimbabweans , but in this deal Chinese have become Zimbabweans , '' said Mushonga in an interview Wednesday , repeating what he had said when opposing the passing of the loan facility in parliament the previous day . Other members of parliament said the country needed to first address the ailing economy before constructing the college . Zimbabwe 's minister of defense , Emmerson Mnangagwa , told parliament that the college would offer `` specialized military training and learning of security issues '' taught by senior officials in defense forces and civilians both in the country and from abroad . China has become a close ally of Zimbabwe , standing by it while the West ostracizes President Robert Mugabe for the long-term leader 's poor human rights record . In 2008 , China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution seeking sanctions against Zimbabwe . Chinese companies have made inroads in Zimbabwe especially in construction industry . Earlier this year , the visiting Chinese vice premier , Wang Qishan , signed about $ 700 million in loan agreements with Zimbabwe . The loan was the biggest international deal in years for Zimbabwe , which continues to be shunned by the West for its failure to service its external debt which is about $ 7 billion .
The money will go to building a defense college . Some members of Zimbabwe 's parliament oppose the deal . They argue that the poverty-stricken country should spend the money in other ways .