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Long-Standing Partnership
China-Zimbabwe relations to further expand in various fields
ChinAfrica | VOL.11 August ·2019-07-30

Zimbabwean Vice President Kembo Mohadi (WANG XIANG)

The history of China-Zimbabwe relations dates back to the early 1960s, although diplomatic ties were only established 39 years ago, when Zimbabwe attained its independence. Over time the friendship has been growing by leaps and bounds, as epitomized by the upgrading of relations to comprehensive strategic partnership in April 2018.

To discuss the development of this relationship, ChinAfrica caught up with Zimbabwean Vice President Kembo Mohadi in Beijing in June this year. An edited excerpt of this exclusive interview follows:

What plans does your government have to take China-Zimbabwe relationship forward as far as trade and cooperation are concerned?

Kembo Mohadi: We would want the relationship to focus on the industrialization of Zimbabwe [to assist our] economic development in all spheres. We want to enhance trade transactions between the two countries.

We have got quite a lot of agricultural produce and we hope to trade with China because China has a huge market. China also has the industrial expertise to turn things around [in Zimbabwe]. We want to take a leaf [out of China's book in this regard] by inviting their companies to come to Zimbabwe so that we can industrialize in areas [where] we need industrialization. [This is in the] manufacturing and mining [sectors] as well as beneficiation of the minerals we produce and [we can] trade them with China [and earn] much needed foreign currency.

How can Zimbabwe benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative?

The Belt and Road Initiative has been rolled out in Africa by the Chinese Government. It is a very lucrative initiative that focuses on infrastructure construction, like the development of our road and rail networks, and our ports. [This can provide a network] so we can export [our products] from the inland to other countries including China. Development of any country cannot come about without the accessibility [to and from] that country and accessibility comes through road and rail networks. Zimbabwe has very good rail and road networks, but they need to be rehabilitated, because in the future, we will be transporting a lot of bulk goods and I don't think the narrow rail gauge that we have is suitable.

[This infrastructure will not only benefit] Zimbabwe, but it will also link us with Central and East Africa and many other regions. So the Belt and Road Initiative is very important for the development of Zimbabwe in particular, and also the development of Africa in general.

What can Zimbabwe offer in the form of value-added exports?

We specialize in a lot of agricultural produce in Zimbabwe, such as tobacco, soya beans and cotton, which need to be beneficiated so that we can export finished products to China. This way, we can industrialize and add value to our products. This would mean earning more revenue, which is not the case when exporting raw material. So industrialization is very important.

We need to industrialize our agricultural sector and process our minerals. For example, with coal, we can beneficiate it and export the byproduct so we can earn much needed foreign currency. There is no country that can live without foreign currency. So that will actually enhance our gross domestic product.

What plans are there to increase the number of Chinese visitors to experience Zimbabwe's tourist attractions?

We need to make Zimbabwe better known to the general Chinese public. We believe that given the number of Chinese people, we can be in a position to attract [many more] visitors into Zimbabwe. For example, last year, we upgraded the Chinese visa requirements to Category B, which means now the Chinese, can get their visas at the port of entry in Zimbabwe, so they don't necessarily have to apply for that before they leave their country. We also recently had a delegation of more than 300 Chinese who came to visit Zimbabwe [on a fact-finding mission]. They were very happy to experience the life in Zimbabwe, especially the wildlife. So we hope to increase the number of Chinese visitors and in return earn much needed foreign currency. Quite a number of economies around the world are sustained by tourism.

Tourism in Zimbabwe is something we can develop and we can also invite Chinese to invest in tourism. We have designated the Victoria Falls as a special economic zone. The whole waterfront from the A'Zambezi resort going upstream has been designated as an economic zone and the master plan is already in place. We are planning to have seven-star hotels built there and a world- class golf course. So we hope the Chinese can come and invest in these projects.

[Boosting tourism in Zimbabwe] means our people will get employment. As more people get employment, they will have more disposable income, which means our taxable base will broaden and contribute to the growth in gross domestic product. If everything goes according to the plan, by 2030 Zimbabwe would be a middle-income economy. That's what we are looking at and we are open for business.

Victoria Falls International Airport upgraded by a Chinese company (CHEN YAQIN)

What are your views on some Western media arguing that China's investments in Africa are a "debt trap?"

If the Chinese people and government had that kind of intention, they would have, long back, asked us to pay back what we owe them. During our liberation struggle, China helped us; they trained us; clothed and fed us all for free. How then can someone now say we are in a "debt trap?"

The "debt trap" is in the West with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, because once you are indebted to [these organizations], you can never get out. These media are trying to detract the Chinese people from having a positive influence in Africa. So, [this criticism] is a scarecrow, wanting to scare [the Chinese] from Zimbabwe in particular, and Africa in general. There is no "debt trap." If that had been the case, they would not have stood by us during our times of need. China is a friend especially when we need them most.

At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held last year, the Chinese Government pledged eight major initiatives to promote China-Africa cooperation. Which initiatives are the most important to Zimbabwe?

Well, they are all important, but let me just zero in on one. We have to industrialize because industrialization is the key [to development]. We have got a city like Bulawayo, which used to be the hub of industry just like Johannesburg is the hub of South African industry. We need to revive that [situation]. We need to industrialize to make sure that whatever we mine or produce is actually beneficiated.

We have talked about the Belt and Road Initiative, which focuses on infrastructure construction like roads, bridges, railways and ports, which facilitates our exports. So we can only do that with the assistance of our [Chinese] friends. So industrialization is the first thing we need to put in place to turn our economy around.

(Comments to niyanshuo@chinafrica.cn)

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