On June 11, 2009, Cheng Zhigang, the executive secretary-general of China-Africa Industrial Cooperation and Development Forum visited Frederick Shava, Zimbabwe Ambassador to China. Mr. Shava and Commercial Counselor Makande gave us a warm reception. We had a had a pleasant conversation on the status in Zimbabwe, as well as economic and trade cooperation between China and Zimbabwe.

 

Cheng: Since China established diplomatic relations with China in 1980, the two countries have formed intimate friendship. Could you give a general introduction on Zimbabwe?

 

Shava: Let me first welcome you and your team to the Embassy of Zimbabwe. Like you rightly said, Zimbabwe and China go back a long way, with China having been one of the key countries that assisted Zimbabwe achieve liberation and independence in 1980.

 

Zimbabwe is located in Southern Africa with a total area of 390,580 sq.km and borders with Africa to the south, Zambia to the north, Mozambique to the east and Botswana to the west. The country has a population of 13 million according to 2008 estimates.

 

Zimbabwe has a highly literate society standing at 90.3% literacy rate.

 

Zimbabwe is an agricultural based economy and grows: tobacco (largest export to China), cotton, wheat, sugar, flowers, coffee, and tea.

  

Mining is also a major contribution to our GDP with platinum, gold, diamonds, chrome, nickel, iron ore, granite and so on.

 

Major exports are: tobacco, platinum, cotton, horticulture and major imports are: machinery, IT products, chemicals and motor vehicles.

 

The country also prides itself of its vibrant tourism sector with the Victoria Falls undoubtedly Zimbabwe’s best attraction.

 

Zimbabwe is also a member of a number of international and regional economic groupings which strive to promote global and regional trade and investment cooperation.

 

Cheng: What about the development of industry in the country?

 

Shava: Zimbabwe has a highly diversified and sound industrial base with manufacturing producing 6000 products ranging from food and clothing to fertilizers and chemicals, metal products of all kinds, electrical machinery and equipment and motor vehicle assembly. The manufacturing sector is also closely linked to agriculture with an excess of 60% of manufacturing value added either related to agro-industry or to the provision of inputs to the agricultural industry.

 

The Zimbabwe mining industry produces over 40 different minerals with recent major investment in platinum and diamonds as well as the establishment of new processing facilities. The industry earns 40% of the country’s foreign exchange, contributes 4% towards GDP and employs in excess of 55,000 people. Zimbabwe also has a vibrant financial sector and sound infrastructural base.

 

Cheng: Zimbabwe is rich in its tourism resources, an ideal country for Chinese. Please introduce something about tourism.

 

Shava: It is true that Zimbabwe is famous as a tourist destination with world renowned tourist attractions and its favorable year round weather conditions.

 

The best known and biggest attraction is the Victoria Falls; with its 106 meter deep gorge which runs for 106 km across the path of the Zambezi River is the largest and deepest waterfall in the world. Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The falls are formed as the full width of the river plummets in a single vertical drop into a transverse chasm 1708 meters (5604 ft) wide, carved by its waters along a fracture zone in the basalt plateau. The depth of the chasm, called the First Gorge, varies from 80 meters (262 ft) at its western end to 108 meters (360 ft) in the centre. The only outlet to the First Gorge is a 110-metre-wide (360 ft) gap about two-thirds of the way across the width of the falls from the western end, through which the whole volume of the river pours into the Victoria Falls gorges. Other attractions include the World Heritage site of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins in Masvingo and the Mutirikwi Games National Park, the mountains on Eastern Highlands, Lake Kariba, Hwange National Park which one of the biggest in Africa, Mana Pools and Gonarezho. These parks offers offer views of large herds of elephant, hippos, zebra, lions, leopards, crocodiles, rhinos, buffalo and various other species.

 

The country has world famous hotels with all facilities such as golf courses, game drives, river cruises, casino and white-water rafting in Victoria Falls.

 

Zimbabwe is grateful to the P. R. China for granting the country with the Approved Destination Status in 2006. We now have a weekly direct flight from Harare to Beijing through Singapore.

 

Cheng: The aim of the China-Africa Industrial Cooperation and Development Forum is to promote the “8-measure” of President Hu Jintao for Chinese industrial enterprises investing in Africa, what are Zimbabwe’s favorable policies to Chinese enterprises?

  

Shava: Our biggest wish at the moment is to translate our political bond into a robust and synergies both sides should take advantage of. Zimbabwe is endowed with abundant natural resources and combined with China’s financial strength you already have a win-win situation： 

---- 100% of after tax profit

---- Cooperate tax of 25%

---- Operating losses can be carried forward indefinitely

---- Duty free importation of capital goods and raw materials

----The SADS and COMESA markets

---- Skilled and educated labor force

 

Towards the end of the dialogue, Mr. Shava wishes that more entrepreneurs and business staff visit and study in Zimbabwe. Before the trip, the ambassador and commercial counselor will provide valuable suggestions on the valuable projects. They prepared a lot of documents and materials on the industrial and investment cooperation and DVDs. Both of them welcome we sit together and exchange ideas again. Finally, he said, “invest in Zimbabwe, the opportunity is yours!"