The Shanghai Charm Offensive: Zim Delegation Deepens Economic Ties at CIIE 2026
By Staff Reporter
SHANGHAI, China– Amidst the neon-lit skyline of Shanghai and the bustling corridors of the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE), a high-powered Zimbabwean delegation is executing a precision-targeted mission to rewrite the country’s economic future.
Led by ZANU PF’s Deputy Secretary for Economic Affairs and Investment Promotion, Cde Endy Mhlanga, the mission is more than a diplomatic visit—it is a strategic “investment charm offensive” aimed at fueling Zimbabwe’s infrastructure and mining boom with fresh Chinese capital and technical prowess.
Strategic Prowess
The delegation’s journey took a significant leap on Sunday in Changsha City, Hunan Province. Inside the headquarters of Feny Company Limited, Cde Mhlanga laid out a compelling case for Zimbabwe as Africa’s next industrial frontier. Addressing top executives, he characterized the nation as a “premier investment destination,” buoyed by its status as the second fastest-growing economy on the continent.
“The mining sector has witnessed increased investments in gold, lithium, iron, and steel production,” Cde Mhlanga told the executives, emphasizing that this growth is firmly anchored in President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” mantra.
From Raw Ore to Industrial Value
The core of the mission lies in a shift from extraction to evolution. The ruling party is no longer just looking for buyers of raw materials; they are wooing partners for value addition and beneficiation. By inviting Chinese firms to set up shop within Zimbabwe’s newly launched Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the government aims to ensure that the country’s mineral wealth is processed at home before it hits the global market.
Feny Company Limited has emerged as a “strategic partner” in this vision. Renowned for its expertise in paste-filling projects for coal and metal mines, Feny’s technical solutions are seen as vital for a Zimbabwean mining sector that has seen exports leap from $10.9 billion in 2025 to a staggering $14.9 billion in 2026.
Stability Amidst Global Storms
Perhaps the most persuasive part of the pitch is Zimbabwe’s newfound macroeconomic resilience. While the world grapples with fuel shocks and volatility stemming from Middle East conflicts, the delegation arrived in China with a remarkable report card: Zimbabwe has maintained a single-digit inflation rate, averaging just 3.95% since January 2026—its most stable environment in three decades.
A Unified Front
The delegation reflects a unified approach between the ruling party and the government. Accompanying Cde Mhlanga—who deputizes Hon. Dr. Kudakwashe R. Tagwirei—are key figures including the ZANU PF Director for Economic Affairs, Hon. Anastancia Ndhlovu, and the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South and North, Hon. Albert Nguluvhe and Hon. Richard Moyo.
Their presence underscores the importance of the Matabeleland regions, which serve as the heartbeat of Zimbabwe’s mining and infrastructure potential.
As the CIIE continues through November 10, the message from the Zimbabwean delegation remains clear: With a projected GDP growth on an upward trajectory and a stabilized economy, the “Great Dyke” is ready for a new era of Chinese partnership. For investors in Shanghai and beyond, the message is simple—the doors are open, the minerals are rich, and the environment is ready.
