Harare- Germany has congratulated Zimbabwe on its 46th Independence Day, with the European power expressing a renewed commitment to strengthening bilateral ties between Harare and Berlin.

German Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Christoph Retzlaff, issued the congratulatory message as Zimbabwe commemorated its liberation from British colonial rule on April 18, 1980.

“Congratulations Zimbabwe on Independence Day. We are looking forward to strengthen the Zimbabwe Germany partnership,” the embassy said in a statement.

The message comes as the two nations work to rebuild a relationship that deteriorated sharply following Zimbabwe’s controversial land reform programme in the early 2000s, which affected approximately 40 German farmers whose properties were expropriated .

Background: Germany-Zimbabwe Relations

Germany established diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe soon after its independence in 1980 and was initially one of the largest providers of development aid to the southern African nation .

However, relations soured significantly after 2000 when the Zimbabwean government began seizing farms from white commercial farmers, including German nationals .

In 2002, with Germany’s support, the European Union imposed sanctions on members of Zimbabwe’s ruling party, including travel bans and asset freezes. Germany froze dozens of bank accounts belonging to Zimbabwean political leaders .

The thaw in relations began around 2009, and in 2012, EU sanctions on political leaders were lifted . Since then, Germany has supported a policy of re-engagement within the framework of the EU, although Berlin maintains that necessary political reforms have only been partially implemented .

Recent Developments

Trade between the two countries stood at €175 million in 2024, though German officials describe this as a fraction of what existed 25 years ago when Zimbabwe was a key African partner for German business .

In early 2025, Zimbabwe began compensating German farmers affected by the land expropriations under Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs), a move widely seen as critical to restoring investor confidence .

Currently, Germany’s development portfolio in Zimbabwe stands at €9 million, focusing on renewable energy and good governance, while EU-Zimbabwe trade has grown by 30% since 2023 to approximately €900 million .

Ambassador Retzlaff has previously stated that German businesses are seeking “stability, transparency, and predictability” before significantly expanding their investment footprint in Zimbabwe . German investment in the country currently stands at €18 million, primarily in horticulture and agriculture .