Online Reporter
The Herald, 9 September 1985
ZIMBABWE wants to see China become its leading partner in development, says the Prime Minister, Cde Mugabe, who recently returned from an official visit to China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The Prime Minister was replying to questions on possible aid at a Press briefing for Zimbabwean journalists. Cde Mugabe paid his visits to China and the DPRK in the last week of last month.
“Across the board we expect greater assistance, greater co-operation, in the military field and greater co-operation in socio-economic spheres as well. “Our friends have pledged their maximum support. They have their own limitations in terms of means which they can make available to us.
But we visited them basically to try and work out with them some general agreements on the basis of which they can participate in our development programmes under the second development plan we are going to launch from January next year.”
Zimbabwe could expect greater participation by China. “Really we would want to see China participate as the leading partner of all our partners, that is (be) in the forefront of our development programmes in agriculture, the infrastructure we need, the mining sector as well (and) in industry at the medium level.
“We might have to approach others for the higher level of our industrial efforts where we want to now produce capital goods. But there are many areas where medium-level technology is required and where China and the DPRK can participate usefully.”
Explaining his desire for Chinese and Korean participation, Cde Mugabe said: “One would want to see partners who not only have the necessary technology and inputs you need, but also whose ideological and political directions is correct, as your own ideological and political direction.”
Such partners would be more sympathetic, would appreciate what Zimbabwe was trying to do and “whose heart and soul are with you.”
These countries were not “those of a mercenary instinct who want to make profit out of enterprises that they run in your country or who want to derive same benefit by extending to you what is called aid.”
Lessons for today
- This article is from the 1980s, right after Independence, when PM Cde Mugabe had just returned from China and DPRK. Even today in 2026, it teaches us a lot about Zimbabwe’s foreign policy and development thinking.
- Strategic partnerships should match your development stage “We would want to see China participate as the leading partner in agriculture, infrastructure, mining and medium-level industry” Zimbabwe was realistic. China/DPRK had “medium-level technology” which fit what we needed then, roads, farms and factories.
- Today we still need partners whose tech level matches our needs. It wasn’t only about loans. It was about ideology, solidarity, and “maximum support”. China/DPRK had supported the liberation struggle, so there was trust.
- Development plans must guide foreign aid. Aid should not drive the plan. The plan should drive the aid. Zimbabwe already had a 2nd development plan and wanted partners to fit into it.
