Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Herald Correspondent
CHINA is willing to extend its vast mineral beneficiation expertise to Zimbabwe, the head of a visiting Chinese delegation, Deputy Mayor of Hunan City, Mr Cao Zhiqiang, has said.
He was speaking after a meeting with the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Cde Winston Chitando in Harare yesterday.
China is one of the global leaders in mineral beneficiation and its willingness to partner Zimbabwe is likely going to give the country a lift in its quest to locally beneficiate its natural resources.
The engagement underscored deepening economic ties between Zimbabwe and China, with particular focus on cooperation in the mining sector, one of Zimbabwe’s most strategic pillars for economic transformation.
Speaking during the interface, Minister Chitando applauded China’s historic and unwavering support for Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and post-independence economic development.
“Zimbabwe is open for business. Our mining sector is under-explored, yet it holds more than 60 minerals,” he said.
“Strategic partnerships such as this one with Hunan are critical to unlocking the full value of our resources.”
Minister Chitando noted that under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, the Government has pursued a three-pronged strategy in the mining sector, reopening closed mines, activating operations where minimal exploration is needed and expanding new exploration through licensing.
Collaboration with China, especially with Hunan’s advanced technology and mining infrastructure, he said, would not only bring investment into the mining value chain but also accelerate beneficiation and infrastructure development, which are crucial to realising Vision 2030.
Zimbabwe is targeting a $12 billion mining economy and the cooperation with China is expected to inject capital into underutilised resources and catalyse growth in key sectors such as lithium, ferrochrome, coal, and steel.
“Going forward, we are focusing on three major investment areas—joint ventures in existing operations, quick wins in low-exploration areas, and capital for greenfield exploration. Additionally, we seek infrastructure investments in transport, laboratories, and mineral beneficiation,” Minister Chitando added.
In response, the Hunan Vice Governor extended a formal invitation to President Mnangagwa to attend the China Economic and Trade Expo from June 12–15 and reaffirmed Hunan’s commitment to Zimbabwe’s development agenda.
“Hunan’s industrial base is solid, boasting leading clusters in engineering machinery, aerospace, and rail,” he said.
“We have 137 universities, including strong institutions in mining and geology. This co-operation with Zimbabwe is not only strategic, it is historic.”
Mr Cao said Hunan’s total trade with Zimbabwe had grown by 73 percent in 2023, with over 80 Hunan enterprises now operating in Zimbabwe.
Chinese contractual investments stand at over US$30 million, a figure expected to grow with the new agreements.
Mr Cao also revealed that Hunan’s mining sector surpassed RMB 600 billion (approximately US$83 billion) in output last year and brought with it key mineral groups interested in resource exploration, green energy, and value-added processing in Zimbabwe.
“Hunan’s commitment is clear, we will partner with Zimbabwe in mining exploration, processing, and infrastructure development,” he said.
“We also want to bring innovation through the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and cooperation platforms.”
The partnership is set to address Zimbabwe’s key development needs, modern exploration techniques, value addition, infrastructure, and industrialisation making it a cornerstone in the achievement of the National Development Strategy 1 and ultimately Vision 2030.
With mineral beneficiation, increased investment, and infrastructure support on the horizon, the Zimbabwe-Hunan co-operation may well be the catalyst that transforms Zimbabwe’s vast mineral wealth into real socio-economic growth.
