As Zimbabwe celebrates 45 years of diplomatic relations with China, Ambassador Abigail Shoniwa sat down with KhabarAsia to discuss the evolution of this strategic partnership and its future trajectory. From liberation war support to cutting-edge technology collaborations, Shoniwa outlined how the alliance continues to shape Zimbabwe's development.
Three Phases of Partnership
Shoniwa identified pre-independence support (1960-1980) as the foundation: "China provided material aid and trained our fighters, rooted in mutual respect for sovereignty." Post-independence years (1980-2000s) saw strengthened political ties and infrastructure projects, while the current phase focuses on "unprecedented cooperation" in energy, ICT, and industrialization to support Zimbabwe's Vision 2030.
Digital Frontiers and Green Shifts
The ambassador highlighted Huawei's data center projects and ZTE's telecom collaborations as models for expanded digital cooperation: "We seek partnerships in e-commerce, AI-driven agriculture, and renewable energy solutions to address power challenges." She emphasized Zimbabwe's interest in adopting China's solar and hydro technologies.
Global South Solidarity
Shoniwa called for unified action against protectionism: "Multilateralism is under attack. We need China's leadership to forge a fair economic order." She praised Beijing's upcoming Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality as critical for assessing progress since the landmark 1995 UN conference.
Breaking Barriers
As Zimbabwe's first female ambassador to China, Shoniwa noted: "Women leaders must balance duty and family while working twice as hard to prove capability." She hailed Olympian-turned-diplomat Kirsty Coventry's IOC leadership as inspiration for African women.
With 17 recent bilateral agreements guiding cooperation, Shoniwa prioritizes boosting trade volumes, tourism infrastructure, and educational exchanges. "China's developmental leap since my first posting here in 2006 shows what technology and determination can achieve," she concluded, envisioning new investments to transform Zimbabwe's economy.
