SIMBARASHE MUMBENGEGWI
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Diplomacy / Zimbabwe
“With SADC and AU, we have been leading the African agenda”
What is the strength of Sino-Zimbabwe relations today?
Zimbabwe and China have excellent relations which are embedded in history dating back to the period before Zimbabwe’s independence. These strong ties between our two countries continued in the post-independence period, with China being one of the first countries to establish a diplomatic relationship with Zimbabwe on the very day of our independence on 18 April, 1980. These excellent relations are important for the two countries in terms of diplomatic, bilateral and multilateral cooperation. As you may recall, it was China with Russia who used their veto in 2008 to block attempts by Zimbabwe’s detractors to impose sanctions on the country under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter.
What role does Zimbabwe play regionally?
Zimbabwe participates and contributes to regional activities with our neighbors within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and more broadly within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). We have been chair of SADC and the AU from 2014 to 2015. With SADC and AU we have been leading the African agenda, steering the focus of both the region and continent. On a broader scale promoting solidarity and cohesion among developing countries through such organizations as the Non-Aligned Movement; promoting South to South cooperation through the Group of Fifteen, and the Group of Seventy Seven and China.
How is Zimbabwe using diplomacy to spur foreign investment?
Zimbabwe has excellent relationships with most countries in the world. We continue to pursue robust bilateral relations with all countries that are interested in cooperating with us in mutually beneficial partnerships. The implementation of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation blueprint (ZimAsset) will strengthen our economy. The country continues to receive a string of potential investors from friendly countries around the globe.
How important is continued cooperation with China for Zimbabwe?
Economic cooperation between the two countries was enhanced following the pronouncement of the Look East Policy by President Mugabe in 2001. Zimbabwe looked to the East as a result of the sour relations with the West and the imposition of sanctions as punishment for the implementation of the land reform programme. China became an alternative source of finance to fund projects and is the leading foreign investor in Zimbabwe; total bilateral trade exceeded $1.3 billion in 2014. They have helped with telecommunication projects, the City of Harare’s Rehabilitation of Municipal Water Supply and Sewage Treatment, and the Kariba South Power Expansion, among others.
What investment opportunities are there for China in Zimbabwe’s leading sectors?
There are opportunities in infrastructure, development in transport, energy, tourism, agriculture, mining and manufacturing. There are already some success stories of investment, such as, Victoria Falls Airport. There are vast investment opportunities for potential Chinese investors.
