Bongani Ndlovu
Vusumuzi Dube in CHENGDU, China
Zimbabwe has identified significant opportunities for cooperation with China in infrastructure development, energy, transport and skills transfer following a high-level visit to the China Railway Rail Transit High-Tech Industrial Park in Chengdu.
Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mercy Dinha, who led a delegation of senior government officials on the tour, said the visit represented an important step in strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Zimbabwe and China.
The Zimbabwean officials are in China attending the Ministerial Seminar for Senior Public Management Officials of Zimbabwe, organised by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), an institution under China’s Ministry of Commerce.
Speaking after the tour, Deputy Minister Dinha said the visit had provided the delegation with an opportunity to explore practical areas of cooperation that could contribute to Zimbabwe’s development aspirations.
“This visit is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between Zimbabwe and China, a bond built through a deepened and shared history and mutual support,” she said.
Dinha said the discussions and site visits formed a crucial follow-up to the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), particularly the 10 partnership actions aimed at supporting Africa’s development priorities.
She said the lessons from China were particularly relevant as Zimbabwe implements its National Development Strategy towards the attainment of Vision 2030, with infrastructure development and capacity building remaining key priorities.
“We are deeply impressed by the group’s expertise in engineering and construction, sectors that are critical in Zimbabwe’s structural and economic transformation,” Deputy Minister Dinha said.
The Deputy Minister said Zimbabwe saw considerable potential for collaboration with Chinese companies and institutions in expanding transport and energy infrastructure, while also strengthening skills development through technological and vocational training.
She noted that infrastructure rehabilitation was already an area of engagement between the two countries, adding that discussions held with Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, as well as the Mutapa Investment Fund, demonstrated that cooperation was moving in the right direction.
“As you have already said, you have been to our Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, and you have had discussions with our Mutapa Investments, so I think that we are in the right direction,” she said.
Deputy Minister Dinha said China’s approach to sharing knowledge and expertise was particularly valuable to Zimbabwe as the country seeks to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting industrialisation and economic transformation.
“China’s commitment to sharing knowledge and expertise aligns perfectly with our aims of developing a high-skilled workforce,” she said.
The visit also highlighted the importance of moving beyond infrastructure development to ensure that Zimbabwe benefits from technology transfer and the development of local technical capabilities.
Deputy Minister Dinha reaffirmed the Zimbabwean Government’s commitment to creating an environment conducive to investment and partnerships between the two countries.
“We reaffirm the Government of Zimbabwe’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for investment and partnerships,” she said.
Online Reporter