China has donated construction equipment worth 1.5 million U.S. dollars to the Zimbabwe Defense Forces, a local newspaper reported on Friday.

The equipment will enhance the capacity of Zimbabwe Defense Forces' housing construction project set to be launched later this year, the state-run newspaper The Herald quoted Zimbabwean Secretary for Defense Trust Maposa as saying.

He said during the official handover of construction equipment on Thursday that the Zimbabwean government is committed to the welfare of the defense forces and will soon embark on a massive housing construction project to alleviate accommodation problems the force is facing.

Maposa also said the good bilateral relations between China and Zimbabwe should continue to be strengthened.

China, which has a fast growing manufacturing sector, enjoys good, cordial and bilateral relations with Zimbabwe, he added.

The equipment includes brick making machines, brick-layer, plaster and carpenters' tool kits, surveying equipment and electricians' tool kits.

Source: Xinhua