HARARE – China has donated an assortment of military equipment to Zimbabwe, including armoured fighting vehicles and machine guns.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa received the equipment worth US$28 milion from Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding at Inkomo Barracks in Harare on Wednesday.
Officers from the People’s Liberation Army are in Zimbabwe to conduct training on the handling of the equipment.
Mnangagwa said the military hardware “will assist in ensuring that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces remains an efficient and capable force.”
He added: “This delivery of military gratis equipment will go a long way towards consolidating our ongoing quest to modernise the ZDF.
“May I once again recognise China as a consistent friend of Zimbabwe. Over the last 23 years, the socio-economic growth, development and prosperity of our country has been weighed down by the albatross of the Western imposed illegal sanctions. Throughout this period, China has been a true and reliable ally. We are forever thankful.”
The equipment includes armoured fighting vehicles, personnel carriers, ambulances, motorised water purifiers, patrol boats, mini buses, sniper rifles, machine guns and hand pistols.
Most western countries including the European Union and the United States maintain an arms embargo on Zimbabwe following concerns over human rights abuses.
China has been contracted to build security establishments such as a military college in Harare, the VVIP and Military Referral Hospital at the Manyame Air Force Base, refurbishment of the country’s biggest airport in Harare and parliament building, all installed with surveillance equipment sourced from China.
It is also not the first time Zimbabwe has procured military artillery from China.
In 2008, Zimbabwean authorities took pains to deny claims – confirmed by South African authorities – that a Chinese cargo ship believed to be carrying 77 tonnes of small arms, including more than 3m rounds of ammunition, AK47 assault rifles, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades, had docked in the South African port of Durban for transportation of the weapons to Zimbabwe.
Reacting to the donation, former foreign minister Walter Mzembi wrote on X: “A friend who arms you with spears and knobkerries when your house is in conflict is a very bad friend. Any loss of life or injury to your children and family he will be held responsible.”
