Sino-Zim Relations in the Context of Vision 2030
By Francis Mufambi | Zimbabwe and China share significant historical ties hailing from the liberation struggle. The socio-political and economic relations have for the umpteenth time remained a classical epitome of the much envisaged South-South cooperation.
This explains why it was no coincidence that the two great nations both launched five-year plans in the second half of 2020. The critical blueprints, which mirror the developmental trajectories of the two states are anchored on targets ofsustainable development, reform, engagement and above all opening the territories to investors with a view to achieve competitive economies by the year 2030.
In November 2020, Zimbabwe launched the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) succeeding the Transitional Stabilization Programme (TSP). NDS1 main pillars are transformation, reengagement, wealth creation and growth with a target to achieve a middle society income by 2030 as well as a quest to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Similarly, China pursuant of the 2016 policy dubbed ‘China’s National Plan on Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ launched its five-year plan with ambitious goals to achieve a moderately prosperous society build on innovation, artificial intelligence, sustainable growth and reform.
The Chinese perspective of concentrating on Common Values and not Universal values is a diplomatic leverage in its cooperation with the developing world. It makes it easier for China to lead in a process laid down by the Havana Charter of encouraging Free Trade and cooperation among nations. China remains a role model in defying Western prescribed development.
Zimbabwe and China share a common adversary in the form of the United States and its allies. For Zimbabwe, the nation is suffering under cancerous economic embargoes imposed after a successful Land Reform Programme while China is facing a tough tariff regime imposed on its exports by the Trump Administration. In this lighthearted vein, China and Zimbabwe through their five-year plans share common position of constructive engagement for developmental purposes at the backdrop of American-induced hardships.
Of considerable interest is that Zimbabwe continues with the mantra ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ with a goal to attract foreign direct investment. Similarly the Chinese government is relaxing its policies especially in liberalizing capital flow and currency.
The Southern African state is seeking to exploit its competitive advantage especially in terms of its Agricultural capabilities and currently a national programme called Pfumvudza in order to attin food self-sufficiency as well as a strategy for import substitution. The Chinese five-year plan shares similar perspectives although its major linchpin is in becoming an innovation centre of the world. The Sino five-year plan is premised on the creation of self-relianceespecially in the 5th Generation networking as well as vehicle technology.
The essentiality of NDS1 is on its reality prescriptions and projections. It is not an ambitious political manifesto like document. It is a public policy document outlining what the Zimbabwean state will pursue in rejuvenating its economic growth. NDS1 is nuanced in practical interventions in the maintenance of macroeconomic stability. Its pursuit is in engineering economic recovery and sustainable growth. All stakeholders are expected to play their part for the realisation of its projected goal of a middle income nation by 2023. The Communist Party of China has systematically used five-year plans with practical objectives which were attainable. China’s econoomic template remains Zimbabwe’s panacea and low hanging fruit to effectively emulate.
In the contemporary when the world is struggling to deal with the Covid 19 pandemic, China has launched a new Healthy Policy dubbed ‘Healthy China 2030: A vision for Healthcare’ where primary care and the healthy of all its citizens is prioritised. This more or less resembles what has been captured in NDS1.Article 34 of NDS1 also focuses on Health and Wellbeing of Zimbabwean people stating that ‘The overall goal is to improve quality of life increase life expectancy among others’
Zimbabwe and China obviously at different stages of development. However, the two states share significantmutuality and similarity on policy goals. Zimbabwe can leverage its relations with China and use such as a spring board to land into the much desired world of modernity
Mufambi is an Msc Student in International Trade & Diplomacy at University of Zimbabwe.