Categories: Stories

Mugabe lifts lid on arms-for-minerals deal with China

“Some of the funds are not gratuitous, they are not grants. They are debts, loans that are being extended to us and we should be able to repay or start repaying them. When we fail to do so then our friends say ah, but what is happening?”

Zimbabwe’s commercial ties with China came under strain in 2016 when the government seized diamond mining concessions from seven firms operating there, including the Chinese-run Anjin and Jinan mines.

Although China has gained a foothold in Zimbabwe’s retail sector, the country’s significant investments have been in infrastructure.

China’s Sino Hydro is currently working on expanding Zimbabwe’s 750 megawatt Kariba South power plant, putting up $320 million to add 300MW in a project valued at $533 million. Sino Hydro has also been awarded a contract to add 600MW to the 920MW Hwange thermal power plant for an estimated $1.3 billion.

China has also built a $100 million defence college on the outskirts of Harare and recently completed the $150 million upgrade of the Victoria Falls International Airport.-The Source

(313 VIEWS)

This post was last modified on February 22, 2017 9:27 am

Page: 1 2 3

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Zimbabweans against extension of presidential term in office

Nearly 80% of Zimbabweans are against the extension of the president’s term in office, according…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabwe government biggest loser when there is a discrepancy in the exchange rate

The government is the biggest loser when there is a discrepancy between the official exchange…

October 10, 2024

What is wrong with Zimbabwe? It’s not the economy but the government and its leadership

Zimbabwe is currently in turmoil after it devalued its five-month old currency, the Zimbabwe Gold…

October 1, 2024

Zimbabwe devalues ZiG by 44%, reduces amount people can take out from $10 000 to $2 000

Zimbabwe today devalued its local currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), by 44% to trade at…

September 27, 2024

Can today be the turning point for the ZiG?

Today is the third quarterly payment date (QPD) for the year, the second after the…

September 25, 2024

My 50 years of writing- Part Two

I left The Chronicle after nine years and returned to freelancing. I started The Insider,…

September 24, 2024