Online Reporter
Africa Moyo
Deputy National Editor
MIDLANDS Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube yesterday invited more Chinese investors to consider taking up opportunities that exist in the country in general, and the Midlands Province in particular.
In his remarks after a tour of the China Medical Device Manufacturing Project in Shanghai, Minister Ncube said Zimbabwe and China were all-weather friends whose relations should continue to be taken to new levels.
“ . . . my tour of the China Medical Device Manufacturing Project was indeed an eye-opener. I gladly invite you to invest in the Midlands Province, which offers unlimited opportunities beyond the health sector,” he said.
Investment opportunities in the Midlands are in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, energy and infrastructure development, with a strong emphasis on mineral beneficiation and value-addition across all key sectors.
It is also the province where Tsingshan Holdings of China, through its subsidiary Dinson Iron and Steel Company, has embarked on a US$1,5 billion steel plant, which is expected to transform lives going into the future.
Minister Ncube’s visit coincided with the 8th China International Import Expo, demonstrating the deepening bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and China, which recently evolved into a comprehensive strategic cooperation framework.
The China Medical Device Manufacturing Project is part of the US$7 billion medical equipment manufacturing industry.
Minister Ncube noted that Zimbabwe and China have collaboration grounded in shared historical experiences and a mutual desire to modernise and industrialise their economies to improve the quality of life for their citizens.
“The People’s Republic of China has been Zimbabwe’s biggest investment partner, creating jobs, incomes and facilitating technology transfer across various sectors such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing,” he said.
Minister Ncube specifically highlighted the invaluable support received from China during Zimbabwe’s war of liberation, where many leaders, including President Mnangagwa, trained.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, China also provided critical medical assistance, particularly vaccines, which helped preserve many lives at a time when detractors were hoping that millions of lives would be lost given what was happening in the developed world.
China’s support has been crucial in enhancing Zimbabwe’s healthcare capacity.
Since the establishment of the Second Republic in November 2017, said Minister Ncube, bold policy decisions have been implemented to open the economy and improve public sector efficiency.
A number of policies such as the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act and the general ease of doing business, were tweaked to allow more investors, especially those that were skeptical, to come and take up opportunities in mining, manufacturing, tourism and agriculture, among others, so as to revive the economy.
Minister Ncube also mentioned the operationalisation of a devolution framework that has led to the establishment of numerous clinics and hospitals across the country, significantly improving health service delivery.
As part of the ongoing initiatives, the China Medical Device Manufacturing Project is expected to supply a wide range of essential medical equipment across various departments, including gynaecology, obstetrics, radiology, and pediatrics.
“The equipment provided will strengthen our healthcare system and create opportunities for local suppliers and human capital development,” said Minister Ncube.
His visit underscores the ongoing collaboration between Zimbabwe and China, aiming to enhance health infrastructure and improve the overall quality of life for citizens.
