Royal Harare Golf Club, 2 June 2026

Mangwanani akanaka!

It is my great pleasure to join you today in witnessing the official launch of Zimbabwe Women in Manufacturing (ZWIM). Please allow me to extend my warmest congratulations on the establishment of this important organisation. To Ms. Gunguwo, President of ZWIM, the founding team, and all members: your vision, courage, and commitment to empowering women in Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector are truly commendable. This well-timed launch comes at a pivotal moment as Zimbabwe strives to achieve Vision 2030 and the NDS2.

Ladies and Gentlemen,there is a well-known saying in China: “Women hold up half the sky.” Last year, at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed this truth and emphasized that women's development is a key driver of human progress. H.E. President E.D. Mnangagwa and the Government of Zimbabwe have likewise affirmed the irreplaceable role of women in economic growth and social progress. Globally, empowering women to achieve sustainable industrial development and shared prosperity has become a common consensus.

Today, ZWIM unites a cohort of outstanding female entrepreneurs across agro-processing, textiles, leather, furniture, and paper production, etc. Every woman here is not only a pioneer growing her own business but also a core contributor to accelerating Zimbabwe’s industrial upgrading and boosting local value addition.

Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe is guided by a powerful national philosophy:

“Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo / Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo” —“A nation is built by its own people.” This ethos champions sovereignty, patriotism, self-reliance, innovation, and shared responsibility. It calls for development forged brick by brick, stone upon stone, ensuring that no one and no place is left behind. In line with this principle, Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 and NDS2 prioritise manufacturing, industrialisation, and women’s economic empowerment as pillars of an inclusive, upper-middle-income society.

Drawing on China’s own development journey, we firmly believe that true prosperity is rooted in the people, accomplished by the people, and shared by the people. Anchored in this conviction, China respects Zimbabwe’s independent development choices and tailored national development strategies. We stand ready to enhance pragmatic, results-oriented cooperation to support Zimbabwe in realising its long-term development aspirations.

Over decades, our profound friendship and practical cooperation have yielded tangible, far-reaching achievements. Landmark projects funded by Chinese government grants and concessional loans range from the Parliament Building and the upgraded international airports in Harare and Victoria Falls to the power stations at Hwange and Kariba South—as well as hospitals, schools, high-tech centers, water boreholes, and numerous medical and agricultural livelihood initiatives. Our fruitful cooperation is also reflected in robust trade and investment relations that sustain over one million livelihoods across Zimbabwe. At the same time, vibrant cultural and people-to-people exchanges strengthen our brotherly bonds, while educational exchanges and capacity-building programmes continuously nurture Zimbabwe’s human capital. 

I am so glad that our trade ties and Chinese private investments in infrastructure, steel, cement, solar, and lithium processing are not only bolstering Zimbabwe’s industrial base — creating jobs, boosting fiscal revenues, and advancing value addition — but also generating tremendous opportunities for small and medium enterprises to grow and for women to thrive economically.

A transformative policy milestone put in place is that, since May 1, 2026, China has implemented its comprehensive zero-tariff treatment for all 53 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China, including Zimbabwe. This landmark policy opens China’s vast market wider to Zimbabwean products, creating unprecedented export prospects, especially for women-led enterprises. Stronger exports will help attract more investment in local processing and manufacturing, which in turn will create more jobs and boost foreign exchange earnings. What we pursue is down-to-earth cooperation that turns favorable policies into real opportunities and tangible gains for ordinary people, particularly women and young entrepreneurs.

This year, 2026, has been designated by China and the African Union as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. We will seize this opportunity to strengthen business partnerships and deepen people-to-people bonds. In support of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector and women's empowerment, we will focus on three priorities: First, scaling up targeted capacity-building and professional training programmes; Second, encouraging enterprises of both countries to engage in in-depth industrial exchanges and share proven, mature, cost-efficient manufacturing technologies; and Third, leveraging the zero-tariff policy to help more high-quality Zimbabwean manufactured goods enter the Chinese market. I am confident that working together, we can contribute to local value addition and industrial transformation, fulfilling Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, and delivering greater benefits to both our nations.

Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a wise Shona proverb: “Rume rimwe harikombi churu,” which echoes a well-known Chinese saying: “A single tree cannot form a forest.” Growth and success always require solidarity and joint efforts.

Today’s launch of ZWIM is far more than a symbolic ceremony. It marks a meaningful milestone for women’s unity, economic empowerment, local industrial progress, and deeper China-Zimbabwe industrial cooperation. I am convinced that with ZWIM’s dedicated efforts, women in manufacturing across Zimbabwe will grow stronger and make greater contributions to revitalizing local communities and achieving the goals of Vision 2030.

Once again, congratulations to ZWIM. May women manufacturers thrive and shine brightly. May China-Zimbabwe friendship grow ever stronger.

Thank you all.