Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, H.E. Zhou Ding, has outlined a compelling vision for the country’s economic transformation, declaring that Zimbabwe’s future depends not on exporting raw materials but on building domestic industries that process minerals locally, create jobs and develop skills, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Addressing delegates at the Zimbabwe-China Investment Symposium in Harare, Ambassador Zhou presented a roadmap that positions the bilateral partnership as a long-term catalyst for industrialisation, value addition and sustainable economic growth in alignment with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
“The future of Zimbabwe lies not only in extracting its natural resources but in processing them locally, creating industries, developing skills and generating sustainable employment,” the Ambassador said.
The remarks come as Chinese investments in Zimbabwe have surpassed the US$10 billion mark, making China the country’s largest source of foreign direct investment. These investments span mining, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, digital infrastructure and other productive sectors, creating nearly one million local jobs while generating hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue annually.
Ambassador Zhou highlighted landmark investments that demonstrate the shift from exporting raw minerals towards building domestic industrial value chains. The Dinson Iron and Steel Plant in Manhize, a US$1.5 billion integrated steelworks, stands as the most potent symbol of this transformation. The plant is already producing over 500,000 tonnes of steel annually, with capacity expected to reach 1.2 million tonnes.
“Sixty percent of this production is exported, directly generating the foreign currency that is the lifeblood of Zimbabwe’s economy,” Ambassador Zhou noted during a recent visit to the facility.
In the lithium sector, Chinese firms have invested more than US$2 billion since 2021. Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, in partnership with China’s Huayou Cobalt, has invested approximately US$400 million in the Arcadia lithium sulphate plant – Africa’s first such facility – with production scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2026. Sinomine’s Bikita Minerals has built a lithium sulphate plant valued at approximately US$500 million.
The Palm River Energy Metallurgical Industrial Park, a US$3.6 billion project in Beitbridge, represents another flagship investment, encompassing coking and ferrochrome processing, cement and fertiliser manufacturing, and integrated power generation.
Policy Alignment and Zero-Tariff Opportunity
The Ambassador highlighted the close alignment between China’s Fifteenth Five-Year Plan and Zimbabwe’s NDS2, saying the two countries now have an opportunity to integrate industrial, supply and value chains for mutual economic benefit.
He described China’s decision to grant zero-tariff access to exports from 53 African countries, effective May 1, 2026, as a historic opportunity for Zimbabwean producers. Bilateral trade climbed to a record US$4.4 billion in 2025, representing a 15.2 percent increase from the previous year, with Zimbabwe enjoying a trade surplus of approximately US$740 million.
According to Ambassador Zhou, the preferential trade arrangement would encourage value addition, promote export diversification and support Zimbabwe’s ambition to move beyond exporting raw materials towards supplying higher-value manufactured and processed products.
However, the Ambassador stressed that achieving meaningful industrialisation requires addressing key structural challenges. He identified inadequate electricity supply, transport infrastructure, water systems and railway networks as major constraints slowing industrial growth and increasing production costs.
While acknowledging progress made through Chinese-supported infrastructure projects, including power generation, airport modernisation and telecommunications expansion, he said additional investment in logistics corridors, renewable energy, industrial parks and digital infrastructure remains essential.
He added that Chinese investors are currently developing captive power stations with a combined generation capacity exceeding 1,000 megawatts to support industrial production and ease electricity shortages.
Beyond infrastructure and industry, Ambassador Zhou placed significant emphasis on policy certainty, describing a transparent and predictable business environment as one of the strongest drivers of long-term investment. He welcomed the Government’s commitment to regulatory consistency, saying investor confidence is built on stable policies that allow businesses to plan decades into the future.
Equally important, he said, is fostering a positive investment narrative that reflects the realities of Zimbabwe-China cooperation. The Ambassador warned against misinformation and negative perceptions that discourage investment while reaffirming China’s expectation that all Chinese companies operating in Zimbabwe comply fully with local laws, uphold environmental standards and maintain constructive relationships with host communities.
He further revealed that Chinese enterprises have collectively invested more than US$100 million in corporate social responsibility programmes across Zimbabwe, supporting schools, health facilities, roads, boreholes, vocational training and community development initiatives that directly improve livelihoods.
