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Leonard Ncube, [email protected]

ZIMBABWE is enjoying the fruits of long-standing cordial relations with India, which date back to many centuries ago as the Asian country continues to provide support in various sectors of the economy.

From students and experts undergoing training in India, to capital finance for mega projects, agriculture, health, climate action and others, Zimbabwe sits specially in the heart of India, according to senior officials.

The relationship started in the 15th century when traders from both countries interacted and escalated during the liberation struggle, as well as after independence when Indian technicians replaced British engineers that had left the country’s energy sector.

It is through this relationship that Zimbabwe finds itself being one of the biggest beneficiaries of India’s investments in Africa.

On Monday, India handed over the 42km Deka water pipeline project that will feed bulk water to Hwange Power Station plant’s cooling towers to Government after completion of construction work.

Exim Bank of India funded the project through a US$48,1 million credit line to ensure the extended Hwange Power Station, Units 7 and 8 has adequate water for boilers and cooling, with an extra supply for the local Deka community.

The Deka Upgrade Project started on October 1, 2021, with President Mnangagwa officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the pipeline in March 2022.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony in Hwange, Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo said the friendship between the two countries is solid and mutually beneficial. 

“The relationship with India dates back to centuries. During the liberation struggle India held us under their arms and a lot of our academics got trained with the help of India.

“In 1980 after independence, with the flight of British engineers, India came in handy to train our technicians and engineers in India and in the country,” he said. 

“All this time up to today, they have not reneged on their promise to help us as Zimbabwe. So, our friendship is very solid and mutually beneficial and we hope to continue with this particular atmosphere as we go towards Vision 2030. 

“So, you find that India and China are working very well with us in terms of energy development and indeed in other sectors like in training where we have a lot of our young people who are studying in India.

“What is also very symbolic is that while China is also assisting us in developing our stations for enhanced power generation in the country, India is also assisting, especially with what we have witnessed today, the Deka project to supply water,” said Minister Moyo.

Indian additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr Shri Puneet Kundal, who led the Indian delegation that had Ambassador to Zimbabwe Vijay Khanduja at the occasion, said the relationship encompasses diverse sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, energy, water management, education and many others.

He said India has Africa top on its political priorities and Zimbabwe occupies a special place.

“Our relationship with Zimbabwe is friendly and one of the most vibrant relationships in Africa. The relationship dates back to the 15th century when our merchants established strong links trading in textiles, minerals and metals. 

“The name of Prince Dom Miguel in the royal house of the Mutapas remains etched in gold in the annals of India-Zimbabwe history as he lived in Gaza in the 17th century,” said the official. 

“India stood with Zimbabwe during the liberation struggle and celebrated its independence. Zimbabwe is an important country for us as indeed the whole of Africa. It was a with our steadfast resolve and commitment shown by Prime Minister Modi that the African Union was accepted as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s Presidency in 2023.”

There have been regular high level visits between the two sides including the Foreign Office Consultations, now in 3rd round, through which the line of credit for the Deka was announced during the visit by Vice-President of India Venkaiah Naidu in November 2018.

Zimbabwe was the first country in Africa to give emergency use authorisation for Indian vaccine Covaxin during the Covid-19 pandemic era. 

India had also supported Zimbabwe with medicines and vaccines worth over US$2 million, anti-TB medicines and ambulances.

The country also contributed US$1 million from India-United Nations Development Partnership Fund in 2021 through which 5 000 farmers in Chiredzi and Mangwe benefited from climate resilient agriculture.

The Angel of Hope Foundation run by First Lady Dr Auxilia Mnangagwa also got 950 sewing machines while there has been refurbishment of Indo-Zim Technology centres all over Zimbabwe through an Indian grant of US$8 million.

“I am also grateful to the contractors and the project consultants Ms Afcons Wapcos who ensured timely completion. We stand in solidarity with Zimbabwe during the current drought induced by El Nino effect,” said Mr Kundal.

Zesa Holdings chair Dr Sydney Gata narrated how he started interacting with India when he started his journey at Zesa in the early 1980s as a young chief executive. He said he cancelled some contracts with British engineers in favour of India.

“This project was well planned and generously financed. Our relations with India in electricity started in the 1980s when I was a new CEO at Zesa. “I cancelled the UK contract in favour of India. At Hwange Power Station the commissioning engineers were British and we brought 120 from India,” he said.

“Our destiny in the electricity sector has been rooted through cooperation and we are collaborating with many Indian companies. We are expecting to receive a major Indian investment in this country in the electricity sector.”

Ambassador Khanduja said the Deka project is the largest single project carried out by the government of India in Zimbabwe. — @ncubeleon