SANCTIONS imposed on Zimbabwe are illegal and unjust, and should be removed as they cause underdevelopment and suffering of innocent people.
Addressing delegates at the commissioning of a US$10 million brick and tile manufacturing plant at Sino Zimbabwe Cement Company (SZCC) on the outskirts of Gweru yesterday, China’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Guo Shaochun said Beijing would continue supporting Harare in its quest – led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa – to create an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“We hope that through our joint efforts, we will be able to provide more support for Zimbabwe to rebuild and restore its industry, achieve economic independence and alleviate the suffering of its people caused by illegal and unjust sanctions.
“In any case, it’s unfair to impose unilateral illegal sanctions against another country and its people. This is a typical practice of power politics,” he said.
Ambassador Guo said China was delighted to see that the Zimbabwe Government recently made a series of policy reforms to attract foreign investments.
“In the meantime, we expect the Zimbabwean Government to provide more facilities to foreign investments in the aspect of land use, tax exemption for imported equipment or spare parts for investment purposes and the arrangement of use of foreign currency.
“In recent years, investment cooperation between China and Zimbabwe has deepened continuously and we have seen the Kariba South hydro-power expansion project, Hwange Power Station expansion project, Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport expansion project and the new Parliament building together with many other major projects aided by China are playing a very important role in helping Zimbabwe become an upper middle income economy by the year 2030,” he said.
Ambassador Guo said while promoting infrastructure construction of Zimbabwe under the guidance of China-Africa Cooperation’s eight major initiatives, China has been actively encouraging State owned enterprises and private enterprises to invest in African countries including Zimbabwe.
“For Zimbabwe, we encourage Chinese enterprises and capitals to invest more in manufacturing, agriculture, processing and light industries. These sectors are characterized by sustainability and moderate scale of investment which can quickly create jobs for local people and meet market demand of Zimbabwe while helping Zimbabwe to save or even earn foreign currency,” he said.
Ambassador Guo said China -Zimbabwe cooperation has been there for a long time adding that such relations have brought about close relationship cooperation in various areas and different levels which have been bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.
“Sino Zimbabwe relations have seen co-oporative and strategic partnership. It is the culmination of the friendship between our countries and our leaders,” he said.
