Tinotenda Hove – Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana on Thursday announced that Zimbabwe and China had agreed to elevate their diplomatic ties, describing the move as a major milestone in Harare–Beijing relations.

According to Mangwana, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, upgraded relations from a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation” to what they termed an “All Weather China–Zimbabwe Community with a Shared Future.” He hailed the decision as proof of the “5-star ironclad friendship” between the two nations.

However, the announcement sparked immediate backlash online, with some Zimbabweans openly questioning the benefits of the so-called partnership. Responding on X, a user identified as Mulatazuva dismissed the deal as meaningless for ordinary citizens.

“What can Zimbabwe offer to China except stupidity which makes Dambudzo prioritise the Chinese while Zimbabweans live in abject poverty?” Mulatazuva wrote. “What ‘shared future’ when local resources develop foreign countries? Do we have any Chinese mineral resources being smuggled to Zimbabwe?”

The comment reflects growing frustration among citizens who feel that deals with China often enrich political elites while ordinary Zimbabweans remain stuck in economic hardship. Critics argue that Zimbabwe’s resources, particularly in mining, overwhelmingly benefit foreign investors, while hospitals, schools and infrastructure at home continue to deteriorate.

Mnangagwa has frequently defended Zimbabwe’s “Look East” policy, claiming it shields the country from Western sanctions and guarantees vital investment. But as Mulatazuva’s remarks highlight, many remain unconvinced that the so-called “all-weather friendship” is anything more than another lopsided arrangement.