Harare- The governments of Zimbabwe and China formalized a significant agricultural infrastructure agreement on Thursday, with Beijing funding the upgrade and maintenance of nine irrigation schemes across the country in a move aimed at bolstering food security and climate resilience.

The signing ceremony for the “China-aided Upgrading and Maintenance of Irrigation Schemes Project” marked another step in the deepening All-weather Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations, elevated earlier this year.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, signed the Exchange of Letters alongside China’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding. The project will be financed under a 2019 Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement.

“The People’s Republic of China has indeed proven to be a steadfast ally, consistently providing invaluable support to the people of Zimbabwe,” stated Minister Ncube. He detailed that the schemes to be rehabilitated are located in six provinces: Ngezi B (Mashonaland West), Nyanyadzi and Nenhowe (Manicaland), Chilonga (Masvingo), Wenimbi and Dangarendove (Mashonaland East), Nyamuseve (Mashonaland Central), and Biri as well as Biri extension (Midlands).

Ambassador Zhou said the project was designed to “unlock greater productivity for smallholder farmers, catalyze agricultural modernization, and strengthen the nation’s resilience to climate change.”

The event served as a platform to highlight the expanding scope of Sino-Zimbabwean cooperation. Minister Ncube applauded China’s recent pledge of approximately US$189 million to the African Development Fund, a 40% increase from its previous commitment. He also noted Zimbabwe was among 19 African nations contributing to the fund for the first time, positioning the continent as a “co-investor in its development trajectory.”

On the economic front, Ambassador Zhou disclosed that nearly 500 new Chinese businesses have registered in Zimbabwe since January 2025, with projected investments totaling US$2.5 billion. He noted that bilateral trade is poised to surpass the 2024 record of US$3.8 billion, bolstered by China’s new policy granting zero-tariff treatment to exports from all African nations.

“This policy will significantly expand access for Zimbabwean products to the vast Chinese market,” the Ambassador said.

The ministers also reviewed progress on several ongoing Chinese-assisted initiatives, including:

· The drilling of 300 boreholes, with 234 already completed.
· The Juncao Technology Assistance Project, launched in April 2025, which promotes a sustainable grass for mushroom cultivation and livestock feed.
· A Policy Consultation Project supporting Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
· Recent emergency food assistance worth US$7.1 million provided in August 2025.

Ambassador Zhou reiterated China’s commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, stating, “As Zimbabwe strives to build an upper-middle-income economy… China stands ready to walk alongside Zimbabwe every step of the way.”