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Paidamoyo Mutsvairo
Relations between China and Zimbabwe date back to the days of the liberation struggle of the 1960s, when Beijing provided military support to the southern African country.
The partnership was further strengthened during the early 2000s when the United States (US) and the European Union imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, following the land reform.
Given that the West had shunned Zimbabwe over alleged human rights violations, China remained the country’s most powerful ally and a major trade partner.
Unlike most Western countries that pretend to trade or corporate with developing countries under certain conditions, China has been socially and economically supporting Zimbabwe unconditionally.
Under the Second Republic, President Mnangagwa has been encouraging re-engagement and engagement with members of progressive regional and international communities which are willing to support the Government to pursue its developmental agenda.
As the President always says, “Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none.”
Zimbabwe and China share a mutual beneficial relationship based on diplomacy and bilateral trade.
The relation is derived from China’s willingness through the Sino-African relations to develop co-operation and ensure that both China and African people benefit.
It is imperative to note that China is very active in Africa, with Zimbabwe being its major trade partner and gateway to development.
According to Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), trade between the two countries reached close to US$1,9 billion in 2021, a 35 percent increase from the 2020 figures.
A number of developmental projects have been implemented in the country by various Chinese companies.
Through co-operation with China, in 2021, Zimbabwe for the first time started assembling computers, tablets and other technological gadgets locally, following the establishment of the Zimbabwe Technology Company (ZITCO).
While officiating at the launch of China’s Sinomine US$200 million project to build a processing plant designed to increase lithium output at Bikita Lithium Mine, President Mnangagwa said the Government cherished the willingness of companies from the People’s Republic of China to invest in Zimbabwe.
He said the move led to a number of top-tier Chinese conglomerates investing in various sectors of the economy, with win-win benefits for all.
In the agricultural sector, China had been assisting Zimbabwe to improve the production of crops such as maize, tobacco and cotton, by imparting valuable knowledge and technology transfer.
Given that agriculture is one of the country’s economic pillars, agriculture technology transfer by Chinese experts will help to increase agricultural productivity, cut production costs and lower consumer prices.
As such, China’s support to the agriculture sector has potential to assist Zimbabwe to restore its bread basket of Africa status.
Moreover, China recently approved the import of fresh citrus from Zimbabwe.
It highlighted that from July 1, oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, lemons and limes, which would have undergone the cold treatment would be sold in China.
Thus, orchards and pack houses that plan to export citrus to China should be registered with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and should be approved by the General Administration of China’s Customs (GACC).
In addition, China has been immensely supporting Zimbabwe on its economic developmental projects. Some of the investments being implemented include rehabilitation of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Units 7 and 8, construction of Kunzvi Dam and the just-completed new Parliament building in Mount Hampden.
It is, however, disheartening that some media platforms have been attempting to tarnish the Chinese investments in Zimbabwe.
A lot of articles have been published accusing Chinese nationals of mistreating local employees.
Also, environmental groups had been accusing Chinese investments under the Belt and Road Initiative for negatively impacting on the environment.
Such accusations led to the withdrawal of financing of a US$3 billion coal-fired power plant project in Sengwa, Gokwe, Midlands province by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
Some people tend to mistakenly think that Government officials are getting bribes from the Chinese investors.
But chairperson of the African Empire Group, Steve Ke Zhao, said Chinese companies usually worked with Government officials on engagement through workshops to ensure that they understand the policies in the country.
Zhao emphasised that the Chinese community always abide by Zimbabwean laws.
Online Reporter