Zimbabwe as We Do Not Know It Well

Anyone visiting Zimbabwe today will witness a major shift in long-held perceptions that have persisted for more than two decades. In reality, since the current president took office and the Second Republic was launched in 2017, Zimbabwe has been experiencing significant transformations that are making it one of the leading countries in the field of development, especially in higher education.

It is well-known that Zimbabwe has been under international sanctions since its independence in 1980 as a result of the policies pursued by the late President Mugabe in relation to the land issue. Much of the agricultural land was seized from members of the white minority who had long ruled Zimbabwe through a system that practiced racial discrimination against the country and its people. Western countries and international financial institutions refused to accept Mugabe’s approach to dealing with agricultural land, even though the land was a legitimate right of the state and its people, and it was natural for it to return to its rightful owners upon independence.

Despite the continuation of sanctions to this day, the Second Republic—since 2017—decided to focus entirely on development in all its forms and on utilizing its many natural resources to drive economic growth. This was done within a framework of openness to the international community as a whole, including countries that still insist on maintaining sanctions. At the same time, Zimbabwe sought alternative economic and technical partnerships with other countries outside the Western bloc, which contributed to launching an effective and impactful development process.

During a recent visit to Zimbabwe that extended beyond the capital to several other provinces, I witnessed major achievements in the form of large-scale projects, such as the steel and iron complex and the use of coal for electricity generation and the production of various goods for local consumption and export to global markets. These initiatives represent the localization of certain industries and the establishment of projects that align with our continent’s aspirations to add value to its mineral resources. They also contribute to creating numerous job opportunities and enabling local talent to gain practical experience in specialized fields.

What is truly heartening is the Second Republic's focus—under the leadership of President Mnangagwa—on giving utmost priority to university and technical education. Numerous innovation centers have been launched not only in the capital but also in various other provinces, with the aim of instilling a culture of innovation and invention among university students and graduates. The strong engagement of young people in these initiatives will make Zimbabwe one of the leading hubs of scientific research in the Southern African region in the coming phase.

Another noteworthy development during the visit was the move to build a large new city adjacent to the capital, where a new parliament building has already been constructed—one of the largest and most modern parliamentary edifices in Africa.

Linked to these efforts is the Second Republic’s commitment to establishing a decentralized system that grants extensive powers to the country’s ten provinces and encourages local authorities to adopt the national approach of relentlessly pursuing self-reliance, especially in food security. This comes in light of Zimbabwe’s rich agricultural resources and its strong export potential, as well as its abundant mineral wealth—particularly gold and other resources essential to advanced technologies that are currently driving global competition.

Some may wonder how Zimbabwe has managed to achieve such prudent transformation and remarkable progress despite ongoing sanctions imposed by Western countries and international financial institutions. This compels us to view the Zimbabwean experience with great admiration, appreciation, and respect.