$600 million rail project proposed for Zimbabwe under Chinese cooperation

Advocate Mercy Dinha, Zimbabwe's Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, stated that a US$600 million rail infrastructure rehabilitation project is currently under discussion between the country and China Engineering and Construction Group. Dinha spoke in Chengdu during a visit to the Chinese construction firm, emphasizing that upgrading transport networks remains vital for Zimbabwe's industrialisation efforts. She described the proposed agreement as part of broader infrastructure cooperation, which also includes roads and energy systems. The initiative is presented as a continuation of commitments made under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to support African modernisation. Dinha noted significant potential for collaboration in expanding transport capacity while fostering skills transfer through technical training. This infrastructure development aligns with Zimbabwe's Vision 2030 targets. The agreement remains under discussion, and no final contract has been signed.