China focuses on improving lives of Zimbabwean peo...

China focuses on improving lives of Zimbabwean people

Zim Now Writer

More Zimbabweans stand to benefit through practical development projects which are coming through, the Chinese Embassy in Harare has said.

“We will commission mushroom and grass project in Zimbabwe and further increase local farmers’ income,” said Embassy charge d’affairs Mr Cheng Yan.

“We are now discussing more agricultural products to export to China, like blueberries and dried chilies, to enhance competitiveness of Zimbabwean products in the international market,” said Mr Cheng.

Chinese Embassy charge d’affairs Mr Cheng Yan with Agriculture Minister Dr Anxious Masuka

He was speaking at a ceremony to hand over the last 20 of 500 boreholes delivered to communities in some of the dry regions in the country.

The boreholes were handed over to Agriculture Minister Dr Anxious Masuka. Residents of Makoni, teachers and students from St. Clare Methodist Secondary School as well as government and UN representatives were attended the ceremony.

“There is a saying that water is life. In order to contribute and address the challenges of accessibility to safe water in remote areas of Zimbabwe, the Chinese government has implemented the 500 Boreholes Drilling Project in Manicaland, Matabeleland South and Masvingo Provinces,” said Mr Cheng.

Mr Cheng said that the boreholes are more than just a physical development that has made life easier for the hundreds of people that they are serving.

“I would particularly highlight that these projects are far more than an array of boreholes, they stand as a landmark of the traditional friendship between China and Zimbabwe, and will be deeply rooted and long standing nourishment for our friendship,” he said.

Mr Cheng said that China believes that the right to development is the most basic human right and without development that improves lives of ordinary people, talk of democracy and other rights are only empty words.

“China actively supports Zimbabwe’s development and provide effective assistance to enhance its self-driven development capacity. Our assistance focuses on infrastructure and manufacturing-related sectors so as to meet the country’s real and urgent needs,” said Mr Cheng.

He gave examples of initiatives such as the National Pharmaceutical Warehouse and the Netone broadband construction.

China has undertaken major projects in Zimbabwe which include the upgrade to Victoria Falls and Robert Gabriel Mugabe international airports, power generation installations in Hwange and Kariba.

China has also capacitated Zimbabwe production and opened its huge market to exports from the country, driving the industrialization of the nation.

The Manhize plant is set to be among the biggest steel producers on the continent while a lithium processing park is also on the table.

Mr Cheng reiterated China’s policy of respecting the sovereignty of all nations by not putting conditions on its friendship.

He urged China Jiangxi International which drilled the Makoni boreholes not to consider their duty done but to continue serving the community by maintaining the boreholes.