Harnessing the Power of Collaboration
The year 2025 marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Zimbabwe. During this period, China-Zimbabwe economic cooperation has deepened, especially in the fields of infrastructure construction, mineral resource development, and agriculture. The two sides have maintained a high degree of political mutual trust and have cooperated closely in international affairs. Cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts have expanded, and both nations continue to work together to further deepen their partnership.
On this important occasion, Abigail Shoniwa, ambassador of Zimbabwe to China, shared her views with ChinAfrica reporter Xia Yuanyuan on the development of the bilateral relationship. Edited excerpts of the interview follow.
ChinAfrica: In what areas do you think China has made the most significant contribution to Zimbabwe’s economic development? How has the cooperation improved the living standards of the Zimbabwean people?
Abigail Shoniwa: China has been a steadfast partner of Zimbabwe since our independence in 1980. The cooperative partnership between China and Zimbabwe speaks for itself, with concrete projects and programmes across many areas that have positively impacted and continue to impact virtually all aspects of Zimbabwe’s political, economic, and social life. Besides infrastructure development, mining and agriculture, China has supported projects in energy, health, water, climate change mitigation, governance, education, science and technology, industry, tourism, and many other areas.
There are numerous projects and programmes supported by China in both urban and rural areas across the country. I will enumerate a few that I believe are flagship projects and key enablers.
Starting with governance, China has provided funds to build Zimbabwe’s new parliament building in Harare. In energy and power development, the most impactful contributions have been China’s financing of the construction of the Kariba South Power Expansion Project in 2018, which added 300 mw to the country’s grid, and the Hwange 7 and 8 Thermal Power Station Expansion Project in 2024, which added 600 mw. Both projects have gone a long way in addressing the country’s energy shortage.
In information and communication technology, China has financed several projects in telecommunications, including the NetOne mobile phone expansion (Phases 1 and 2, 2010–2015) and the NetOne National Broadband Project. In the transport and connectivity sector, China has financed the expansion of the Harare International Airport and the Victoria Falls Airport in recent years. These projects have improved connectivity and logistics, helping to bridge the urban-rural divide and expand digital finance access.
Collectively, these projects directly improve the living standards of Zimbabwean citizens, enhance quality of life and help to combat poverty. Overall, China has been a trusted partner across numerous sectors, with projects that have had a significant positive impact on the economy - and, by extension, on the lives of Zimbabweans.
What do you think is the basis for political mutual trust between the two countries? How does Zimbabwe view cooperation with China under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU)?
As you are aware, relations between Zimbabwe and China are longstanding and enduring. This friendship is rooted in history, forged during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle in the 1960s and 1970s, when China supported the fight for Zimbabwe’s freedom and independence by providing diplomatic support, solidarity, and other material assistance to our national liberation movements. For these sacrifices, Zimbabweans will be eternally grateful to China. After Zimbabwe’s independence, this trusted friendship continued and has been tested and strengthened over the past four decades. We have consistently stood by each other in both good and difficult times.
This relationship is firmly based on both countries’ unwavering commitment to the principles of equality among nations, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposition to external interference in the internal affairs of other countries. In line with this, China took a bold and principled stance in 2008 by vetoing a UN Security Council resolution - sponsored by Western countries - targeting Zimbabwe. China has also consistently opposed Western sanctions on Zimbabwe.
In return, Zimbabwe firmly upholds the one-China principle regarding Taiwan and opposes the weaponisation of human rights against China. Zimbabwe and China collaborate closely in bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council to thwart Western attempts to tarnish their image. At the AU, Zimbabwe works alongside China to foster peace and stability across the continent. Additionally, the two nations actively cooperate within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Zimbabwe and China are jointly committed to advocating for a just and equitable global political and economic order that meets contemporary needs. Both countries support UN reforms to ensure that Africa gains permanent representation in the UN Security Council, as well as changes in voting rights at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to reflect the evolving global economic landscape.
How do you evaluate the current status of exchanges between China and Zimbabwe in the fields of culture, education and humanities?
The level of exchanges between China and Zimbabwe in culture, education and humanities is ever-growing. There is an expanding and active Chinese community in Zimbabwe which enriches every aspect of life, from food and clothing to agriculture and economy. There is also a sizeable Zimbabwean community in China, comprised mostly of students and entrepreneurs. There is a growing alumnus of Chinese universities in Zimbabwe.
History has proven that cultural and educational ties played an important part in the sharing of knowledge and paved the way for the establishment of trade amongst different civilisations. These historical experiences are also true in the case of Zimbabwe and China. On several occasions, the two sides have acknowledged the need to do more in terms of youth exchanges so that the youths of each country are more knowledgeable about each other’s culture, thereby promoting understanding.
