Zimbabwe, China Ink $55M Deal

Zimbabwe and China signed two major cooperation agreements focusing on economic and technical development, as well as national food security.

By Abel Karowangoro

The high-level signing ceremony, presided over by President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa at State House Zimbabwe, underscores a deepening of strategic relations between the two nations. One of the agreements — an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement — involves a US$55 million investment by the Government of China to support a range of joint development projects.

“These agreements are a reaffirmation of the strong and growing friendship between Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China,” said President Mnangagwa. “They come at a time when our nation is accelerating efforts toward industrialization, infrastructure development, and food self-sufficiency.”

 Strategic Cooperation: Infrastructure, Energy, Mining

While the exact projects funded by the new agreement were not immediately disclosed, government officials confirmed alignment with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). Key sectors expected to benefit include:

• Infrastructure development
• Agriculture and irrigation
• Energy and mining

The deals follow recent diplomatic engagements between President Mnangagwa and Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expanded cooperation in high-impact economic sectors.

 China’s $4B Investment in Zimbabwe

China’s investment footprint in Zimbabwe now exceeds US$4 billion, supporting major projects such as the Manhize Steel Works in Midlands Province — one of the largest steel production facilities in Africa, currently under development by Dinson Iron and Steel Company, a subsidiary of China’s Tsingshan Group.

This landmark project, which has created thousands of local jobs, is expected to significantly reduce Zimbabwe’s reliance on steel imports and stimulate downstream industrial growth.

 Food Security Deal to Support Agriculture

The second agreement signed on Tuesday targets Zimbabwe’s food security agenda. It is expected to fund collaborative projects involving:

• Irrigation infrastructure
• Grain storage systems
• Agricultural mechanisation
• Technology transfer from Chinese experts

These initiatives are aligned with Zimbabwe’s Agricultural Recovery Plan and are critical to mitigating climate risks and reducing food imports.

 Diplomatic Remarks

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding, praised the agreement as “a testament to the enduring friendship between our peoples, and a commitment to shared prosperity through practical cooperation.”

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean officials emphasized that China remains a strategic development partner as the nation works toward achieving upper-middle-income status by 2030.