Today I had the honour of delivering a presentation at the Golden Peacock Hotel on “Viewing China’s 15th Five-Year Plan Proposals from a Zimbabwean Perspective.” It was an energising discussion, and I was grateful to Xinhua News Agency for convening such a timely dialogue.
I reflected on how China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) aligns almost perfectly with Zimbabwe’s NDS2, which runs over the same years. This overlap creates a rare moment where both nations – guided by President Xi Jinping and President Emmerson Mnangagwa – are pursuing major reforms at the same time, opening space for deeper cooperation in technology, industry, energy, and governance.
I also highlighted the significance of 4 September 2025, when China elevated its relationship with Zimbabwe to an “All-Weather Community with a Shared Future.” This is one of China’s highest friendship designations, signalling deep political trust and long-term development partnership. It confirms that Zimbabwe enters NDS2 not as a junior partner, but as a strategic ally with whom China shares a broader horizon.
In my remarks, I traced the historical depth of this friendship – from liberation-era support to major projects before NDS1 such as the Kariba South Extension, the Victoria Falls Airport upgrade, and the National Defence University. Under NDS1, China’s impact became even more visible through Hwange Units 7 & 8, the expanded Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, the New Parliament Building, and the rise of the Dinson Iron and Steel Company.
Looking ahead, I spoke about opportunities in energy transition, manufacturing, digital transformation, agriculture, tourism, and especially the fast-growing electric vehicle and lithium value chain. Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth and China’s technological leadership create the possibility of developing battery industries, research partnerships, and high-value jobs for our young people.
I closed by saying that if we align China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Zimbabwe’s NDS2, the years 2026 to 2030 could become a defining chapter – the moment when our two countries moved from friendship to shared destiny, building the foundations of a modern, resilient future.
A rewarding engagement, and I am humbled to have contributed to this important conversation.
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