By Agencies
BEIJING – Zimbabwe and China on Thursday announced the elevation of their long-standing partnership to what Chinese President Xi Jinping called an “all-weather community with a shared future,” placing Harare in a privileged bracket of Beijing’s allies, alongside Russia.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa met with Xi in the Chinese capital, where he is attending events marking the 80th anniversary of China’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. The upgrade, officials say, moves relations beyond the “comprehensive strategic partnership” adopted in 2018, signalling deeper political and economic integration.
Deputy Chief Secretary for Presidential Communications George Charamba described the agreement as a “monumental milestone,” highlighting commitments to upgrade Zimbabwe’s rail network, modernise defence capabilities, and expand cooperation in agriculture and mining.
“Zimbabwe has secured agreements in many sectors… these entail very complex, cross-cutting arrangements for which extreme due diligence is called for,” Charamba said in a lengthy thread on X. He singled out Attorney General Virginia Mabiza for her role in vetting legal frameworks to safeguard Zimbabwe’s interests, insisting “no agreement sees light of day until it passes through the Public Agreements Committee.”
A shift from Mugabe’s diplomacy to Mnangagwa’s pragmatism
Analysts note that the deal reflects a broader pivot in Harare’s foreign policy. Under the late former President Robert Mugabe, diplomatic platforms were often used to rally solidarity against Western sanctions and to defend the land reform programme. Mnangagwa’s administration, by contrast, has sought to use high-level forums to secure infrastructure deals and financial lifelines, a shift that Charamba himself characterised as “pragmatic progress over mere ideological rhetoric.”
The new status cements China’s role as Zimbabwe’s most reliable partner at a time when Western re-engagement has largely stalled. Yet critics argue the relationship is asymmetrical. Chinese companies dominate mining, energy and construction projects in Zimbabwe, often accused of engaging in environmentally destructive practices, labour abuses, and crowding out local industries with cheap imports.
Concerns over debt and transparency
The details of the latest agreements remain opaque. While officials hailed prospects of revamped railways and defence upgrades, little is known about financing models, repayment terms, or the degree of Chinese control over strategic assets. Zimbabwe already carries significant external debt—estimated at over US$18 billion—raising fears that new commitments could deepen dependence.
Economist Godfrey Kanyenze cautioned that “all-weather” rhetoric risks masking the power imbalance. “China has the capital and technology Zimbabwe needs, but the terms of engagement are rarely transparent. Without parliamentary scrutiny, the risk is that deals mortgage national assets in exchange for short-term political survival,” he said.
Spotlight on the Attorney General
Charamba’s remarks also drew attention to Attorney General Mabiza, who has faced a barrage of personal attacks on social media. He praised her “salutary” role in safeguarding Zimbabwe’s legal interests in complex bilateral agreements. Mabiza has also taken on the sensitive Gukurahundi reconciliation process, working with traditional chiefs in Matabeleland—a task that has earned her respect in some quarters but also political hostility.
Independent observers note that while it is legitimate to critique government officials, the personal and gendered nature of recent attacks on Mabiza risks diverting attention from the real issue: whether the China deals she oversees genuinely benefit ordinary Zimbabweans.
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The bigger picture
Zimbabwe and China first formalised ties in 1980, shortly after independence. Over the past four decades, Beijing has financed major projects including the new Parliament building, the expansion of Hwange Power Station, and road networks. Chinese investments dominate gold, chrome and lithium mining, positioning Beijing as a central player in Zimbabwe’s economic future.
For the Mnangagwa administration, the “all-weather” label is a diplomatic coup at a time of domestic economic crisis, power shortages, and waning hopes of Western debt relief. For Beijing, it extends its influence in southern Africa and showcases loyalty from a long-standing ally.
Yet the central question remains: will this renewed embrace of China bring tangible benefits to ordinary Zimbabweans, or simply entrench a dependency that leaves Harare with little bargaining power
