By Own Correspondent- Zanu-PF Secretary for External Affairs Simbarashe Mumbengegwi who is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs has heaped praises on China saying the nation has been the backbone of Zimbabwe’s survival in the wake of the Western imposed sanctions.

Mumbengegwi made the remarks after touring China’s Qingdao National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone where he is part of a Zanu-PF delegation led by national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri, which is on a 10-day exchange visit with the Communist Party of China (CPC).

He said:

“Zimbabwe has been on sanctions for decades and China has been the backbone of our survival from these sanctions.

I am not exaggerating to say we would not be able to achieve this status without China’s support and we are extremely encouraged that China has stood by us so that we can be able to stand on our feet.

You will recall that in 2008, China took the extraordinary step of exercising its veto in favour of Zimbabwe.

For this, Zimbabwe will forever be grateful because sanctions under the UN Security Council would have destroyed our country.

It would have reopened our country to recolonisation but we continue to be an independent country today.”

Mumbengegwi said Zimbabwe’s relationship with China will help Harare to achieve economic development under President Mnangagwa’s thrust to “modernise and industrialise the country”.-StateMedia