The coalition government in Harare is discussing a credit line of almost $1bn with China, after Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s prime minister, secured less funding than had been hoped during a three-week trip to Europe and the US.

Mr Tsvangirai told a press conference in Harare on Tuesday that Tendai Biti, his finance minister, had negotiated a $950m deal, although an official at the Chinese embassy said the arrangement was “still under discussion”.