Story by Tendai Munengwa
ZANU PF and the Communist Party of China (CPC) are celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relations, reflecting on the vast opportunities aimed at propelling Zimbabwe towards achieving an upper middle-income society by 2030.
A ZANU PF delegation, led by Politburo member Cde Elifas Mashaba, attended the 45th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations between the CPC and ZANU PF, held in Beijing, China.
The ceremony was marked by reflections on the tremendous socio-economic and political gains made since Zimbabwe attained independence.
“We want to thank China for standing with us dating back to the struggle for our liberation,” Cde Mashaba said.
“Our President is a product of Chinese military training and as we speak we boast of one of the best Parliament in Africa which was built from a grant by the Chinese government, the twining of cities is an area of interest and we are inviting China to come and invest as we build our new smart city that will be of world-class.”
The delegation had the opportunity to explore the vast business opportunities offered by one of the world’s fastest-growing and highly industrialised cities in China, Chongqing.
“We will never develop if we continue to export our resources in raw form, our tobacco our lithium and so forth and President Mnangagwa’s vision is for value addition and beneficiation. Chongqing City has expressed interest in battery making and we have our lithium, so this is what his excellency means when he says Zimbabwe is open for business. Value addition is what made China a global hub for manufacturing,” ZANU PF Politburo Member, Honourable Supa Mandiwanzira said.
Through long-standing socio-economic and political relations with China, Zimbabwe has witnessed a huge transformation which has seen the upgrading of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, the construction of the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden and the establishment of the Manhize Iron and Steel Company, among others.
