A new beginning

Zimbabwe's famous Balancing Rocks found at Matopos National Park and throughout the country. Provided to China Daily

National unity moves the country in the right direction as it opens up for business

With the Southern African Development Community set to become a common market within three years and a monetary union by 2016 - and with the launch of a single currency among the 15 member states by 2018, Zimbabwe is poised to receive great economic benefits in the near future.

Having recorded growth of 6 percent last year, the southern African country of 12.6 million people continues to show the international community it is ready to do business. The Zimbabwean dollar was decommissioned in February 2009, and the US dollar, the euro, the British pound and South African rand accepted as legal tender, which opened many doors for investors, and transformed the country into Africa's new investment hotspot.

In fact, according to the "Into Africa: Institutional Investor Intentions to 2016" survey, published by Invest AD and the Economist Intelligence Unit, Zimbabwe ranks behind only Nigeria and Kenya as preferred destinations on the continent.

The coalition government has been implementing a number of initiatives to improve the investment climate, including setting up a one-stop shop investment center, a new investment promotion and protection law and the conclusion of negotiated Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection agreements.

Thanks to a "look east" policy, the resource-rich country is partnering with China in many areas to help establish the nation on a path to a dynamic and lucrative future.

Prime Minister Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said: "Africa is going through an optimistic phase, and Zimbabwe is well placed to attract Chinese investment. We need investments in infrastructure, such as railways, highways and energy to keep the country going. Zimbabwe is a logistical hub for east and west, and in terms of infrastructure rehabilitation, we attract a lot of partners. Zimbabwe is also a financial hub, and it is able to create the best financial services.

"Above all, our agricultural infrastructure is among the most developed in Africa, and the future of Africa is agriculture, so for Chinese agricultural companies, Zimbabwe is an area for interesting investments.

"Our land is full of minerals, particularly nickel, platinum, and iron which are fundamental for the economic activities that China needs. If we improve our investment strategy and create the necessary political agreements, I am sure Zimbabwe will grow at double-digit rates over the next 10 years and this is the greatest attraction."

The prime minister signed a power-sharing agreement with President Robert Gabriel Mugabe in September 2008, to form a coalition government whose aim was to create a healthy and united multiparty democratic state.

"The political negotiation after the election of 2008 was a positive step for Zimbabwe; the introduction of the multicurrency system and a stable and peaceful coexistence were key elements for us," Tsvangirai said.

"We have survived a difficult period, but we have restored the social sector, giving new strength to the public education and health sectors. The formation of the new government was a sample of collaboration, and gave us a nudge in the right direction."

Tsvangirai, who attended the executive leadership program at Harvard University in 2001, is keen to seize on the optimism that is currently engulfing Africa, and to encourage and attract investments.

"We have a mid-term development plan that can be accessed within specific areas and sectors of economic activities. Chinese finance could be useful to Africa's development and China is welcome here. They are not strangers, and that is how our partnership will be developed."

Joice Mujuru, vice president of Zimbabwe, a member of Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, was appointed as a cabinet minister at the age of 25 after Zimbabwe's Independence from Britain in 1980.

She became vice president in December 2004, and has worked hard on the empowerment of women and young people through projects such as sugar cane production, horticulture, poultry and pig husbandry, as well as re-greening initiatives. She talked in detail about the Sino-Zimbabwe relationship.

"The two countries have a long-standing friendship," she said. "We have benefited from their training, and there have been many visits."

While the West has imposed sanctions, "China and Russia voted not to, and this is a clear message to us, through our leadership to maintain our friendship strong and fast. The principal areas to expand through Zimbabwean-Chinese collaboration are mining, agriculture and infrastructure development.

"Zimbabwe needs to adopt the Chinese work ethic because it will give us a lot of savings. Time is money. We need to promote tourism in Zimbabwe; we are one of the best tourism destinations in the world. Places like Victoria Falls, the Domboshawa Caves and Lake Kariba are unique in their nature, and offer tourist attractions that can be found nowhere else.

"Zimbabwe is a place that has to be visited. Our sunshine and our warm hearts will welcome everyone that comes here. The literacy rate in Zimbabwe is 97 percent, the highest in Africa. Even people in rural areas are able to speak English and we are very proud of that."

She concluded: "We are sitting on a land full of minerals, one of the richest in the world. Zimbabwe is a unique country and our people are our best resource. For people who come here and see who we are, the sky is the limit."

In all of this, the two leaders are showing their clear commitment to a new and improved Zimbabwe, a promising country where the only way now is forward.

InFocus provided the story

(China Daily 09/12/2012 page5)