India Zimbabwe Relations
Munhumutapa Kingdom, Indian merchants established strong links with Zimbabwe, trading in textiles, minerals and metals. Sons of the royal house of Munhumutapa journeyed to India to broaden their education. In the 17th century, a great son of Zimbabwe, Dom Miguel – Prince, Priest and Professor, and heir to the imperial throne of the Mutapas – studied in Goa. An inscribed pillar stands today at a chapel in Goa, a tribute to his intellectual stature. India supported Zimbabwe’s freedom struggle. Former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi attended Zimbabwean independence celebrations in 1980.
There were frequent exchanges of high level visits in the past, bilateral or to attend Summits such as NAM. Former Prime Minister Shri Vajpayee and President Mugabe met twice in the year 2003 on the sidelines of UNGA and NAM Summit.
Visits from India to Zimbabwe
1980 – Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi – to attend Independence Celebrations of Zimbabwe.
1986 – Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi to attend NAM Summit.
1989 – President Shri R. Venkataraman
1991 – Prime Minister Shri Narasimha Rao – to attend CHOGM Summit
1995 – President Dr. S. D. Sharma 1996 – Prime Minister Shri H. D. Deve Gowda for the G-15 Summit
Visits from Zimbabwe to India
1981 – President Robert Gabriel Mugabe
1983 – President Robert Gabriel Mugabe to attend CHOGM and NAM Summits
1987 – President Mugabe – Africa Fund Summit
1991 – President Mugabe – Nehru Award Presentation
1993 – President Mugabe
1994 – President Mugabe – G-15 Summit
There were no high-level or even ministerial visits from either side between 1996- 2005. However, Ministerial visits from Zimbabwe to India have taken place on a regular basis since 2006, beginning with the visit of a high-level delegation led by H.E. Mr. Obert Mpofu, Minister of Industry and International Trade to India for COMESA Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi on 5-6 October 2006 and 3rd Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership (9- 11 October). The frequency of visits have increased during the last three years or so.
A seven member delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Ms. T. Khupe visited India for study visit on Micro Finance Initiatives for Women from 24 February to 2 March, 2010. Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Ms. S. G. G. Nyoni participated in SME Business and Projects in Africa in New Delhi, 12-17 March, 2010. Mines and Mining Development Minister Mr. O. M. Mpofu, led a high-powered delegation to attend the Mines & Marketing Seminar in Mumbai, 12-13 October 2010 organized by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council. Minister of Science and Technology participated in the First India-Africa Science and Technology Ministers Conference held in New Delhi on March 1-2, 2012. Besides, Vice President Mujuru led a delegation to participate in the 8th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave in New Delhi on March 18-20, 2012 where Zimbabwe was the focus country. Hon’ble Ms. Edna Madzongwe, President of the Senate of the Republic of Zimbabwe led a delegation to participate in the 7th Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament on Gender Sensitive Parliaments held in New Delhi on 3-4 October, 2012.
Minister of Commerce and Industry, Prof. Welshman Ncube, visited Mumbai to participate in the India-Africa Commerce Ministers Conference in January 2012 and later in Agra in January 2013. He also led a Zimbabwean delegation to the 9th CII-Exim Bank Conclave in Delhi from March 2013. Minister of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development Mr. Joseph Made participated in Asia-Africa AgriBusiness Forum held in Delhi from 4-6 February, 2014. A high powered delegation comprising Minister of Industry & Commerce Mr. Mike Bimha & Minister of SMEs Mrs. S. Nyoni, among others, participated in CII EXIM Bank Conclave held in Delhi from 9-11 March, 2014.
From the Indian side following Ministerial visits have taken place since 2011:
(a) Shri Jyotiraditya Schindia, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry led a business delegation in September 2011.
(b) Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce and Industry participated in business seminar in July 2012. He also led an Indian delegation to 2nd Joint Trade Committee in March 2013. Shri Sharma visited again in February 2014 with a delegation to review decisions taken during 2nd Joint Trade Committee.
(c) Shri Beni Prasad Verma, Minister of Steel led a delegation from 8-10 April 2013.
(d) Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of Water Resources led a WAPCOS delegation from 12- 13 April 2013.
India has been engaged in human resource development and capacity building efforts in Zimbabwe. ITEC and ICCR scholarships are popular among Zimbabweans. During 2012-13, 257 ITEC/IAFS training slots/ICCR scholarships were availed by Zimbabwe (ITEC 180, IAFS 62 and ICCR 15). In 2013-14 and 2014-15, ITEC/IAFS training slots/ICCR scholarships utilized were 204 (ITEC 162, ICCR 20 and IAFS 22) and about 200, respectively. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in collaboration with ZimTrade conducted Executive Development Programme on International Business from 17-21 November, 2014 in Harare and another such Programme from March 9-13, 2015 in Bulawayo.
India gave an assistance of 50,000 tonnes of rice in 2003 when Zimbabwe experienced severe drought. Another similar assistance of 500 tonnes of rice was given on March 23, 2015. India granted US $ 5 million for promoting SMEs(Indo-Zimbabwe Technology Centre) in Zimbabwe, a project inaugurated by President Robert Mugabe on August 4, 2008. The final phase of the project completed in February, 2013. India set up three ‘Hole-In-The-Wall’ computer learning stations in 2012. India is in the process of setting up a Vocational Training Center (under IAFS-I) and a Food Testing Laboratory and a Rural Technology Park under IAFS-II under aid budget. Besides, under GOI Line of Credit(LOC) worth US$ 28.6 million upgradation of Deka Pumping Station and River Water Intake System is in progress. GOI has offered, in April 2015, another LOC worth USD87million to Government of Zimbabwe for renovation of Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant. EXIM Bank of India has signed Buyer’s Credit Agreement of USD 49.92 million with Government of Zimbabwe for purchase of vehicles and spare parts from Ashok Leyland Ltd. Under similar facility from EXIM Bank to Hwange Colliery Company Ltd., Zimbabwe for purchase of mining equipment and blast hole drill and spare parts from BEML Ltd, India, the mining equipment worth USD 13.03 million was commissioned on June 19, 2015 by Zimbabwean Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.
Economic
Total bilateral trade between the two countries is around US$ 133 million while Indian investments into Zimbabwe are worth less than US$ 50 million. With Zimbabwe following, of late, a Look East policy, India is now looked upon as an important trading as well as business partner.
Bilateral Trade
| Year (April-March) | Exports to Zimbabwe (in million US$) | Imports from Zimbabwe (in million US$) |
| 2002–03 | 15.83 | 14.04 |
| 2011-12 | 171.72 | 6.89 |
| 2012-13 | 147.65 | 1.71 |
| 2013-14 | 132.78 | Negligible |
| 2014-15 | 178.29 | 0.71 |
(Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry website www.commerce.nic.in and Foreign Trade Statistics of India, Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics, Kolkata and Zim Trade/Zimstat)
India and Zimbabwe signed Joint Commission Agreement in January 1987. Four meetings of the Joint Commission have been held so far – first in New Delhi in April 1987; second in Harare in February 1989; third in New Delhi in October 1990 and the fourth in Harare in January 1996. No Joint Commission meeting has been held since 1996 mainly due to Zimbabwe’s economic turmoil. Dates for holding 5th JCM in Delhi are being worked out. A SoM was held in Ministry of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi in February 2012, followed by the 2nd Joint Trade Committee meeting in Harare in March 2013.
The Air Services Agreement between India and Zimbabwe was signed on June 19, 2014 in Harare. The frequency of visits by business delegations from Zimbabwe has gone up in the last few years and a probable turn-around in the Zimbabwean economy in the future can open up considerable opportunities for Indian companies in agro-processing, mining, telecommunications, power and pharmaceuticals. From the Indian side, a delegation each from CII and FICCI visited Zimbabwe in November 2013 and May 2014 respectively and participated in business seminars and B-2-B meetings
Indian public sector companies like Indian Railway Construction Company (IRCON), Rail India Technical & Economic Services (RITES), Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) and Telecommunications India Ltd. (TCIL) had a successful history of engagement with Zimbabwe.
Kirloskar and Jain Irrigation have supplied pumps and irrigation equipment. Some Indian companies are looking for investments in mining – coal, granite, gold and diamonds. India has strong presence in pharmaceutical sector in Zimbabwe and Indian medicines are readily available in the local market. Ranbaxy and lpca Labs Ltd. have also established business relations with the Zimbabwean health sector. An Indian pharmaceutical company, “Shreya” had invested about US$ 1 million in the largest pharmaceutical company of Zimbabwe – ‘CAPS Ltd’. M/s Chadha Power of India were awarded a contract in April 2008 to refurbish four units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station near Victoria Falls.
Investments by a few other Indian companies in Zimbabwe are detailed below:
Surface Investment set up a multi-seed edible oil producing plant near Harare capable of producing 120,000 bottles of edible oil daily with an investment of nearly US$ 1.5 million.The project is a joint venture between Midex Global Pvt. Ltd., Indore and Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe on 74 : 26 sharing basis. Graffax Cotton Pvt. Ltd. – 100% foreign-owned EPZ company – has investment of US$ 2.5 million. It has one cotton-ginning plant in Sanyati and Mt. Darwin in Zimbabwe. The company has plans to install a spinning project to process 3000 tons of lint per annum into yarn and fabrics at Ardnbenny in Harare and an oil extraction/solvent plant at Mt. Darwin. PM Electronics is exporting transformers to Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA). The company has also signed a technology transfer agreement with ZESA Enterprises – a subsidiary of ZESA – for a transformer manufacturing project in Harare. Apollo Tyres has invested US$ 200 million in Dunlop South Africa, whose subsidiary is Dunlop Zimbabwe. Technofab Engineering Limited, Delhi won three orders worth US$ 30 million in early 2013, for rehabilitation of water supply and sewage systems in Mutare, Harare, Chitungwiza, Kwekwe, Chegutu and Masvingo. The project is funded by Crown Agents on behalf of Ministry of Finance, Government of Zimbabwe. Angelique International Ltd. Delhi were awarded contract for works “Emergency Power Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project” by the Government of Zimbabwe in 2013. The project was funded by multi-donor fund administered by AfDB. Project completed in July, 2014. Another Indian firm Indure (Private) Ltd. was reported to have won tender worth US$ 11 million in August 2013 to rehabilitate and upgrade the ash plant at the Hwange Thermal Power Station. Tata International acquired Blackwood Hodge (Zimbabwe) Pvt. Ltd. Co. dealing in trading and invested approx. US$ 2.5 million.
Jaguar and BEML are vying for project in Zimbabwe.
On the cultural side, Zimbabwe and India signed an agreement in 1981 which facilitated cultural exchange programmes for the years 1992 to 1994; but due lack of capacity to reciprocate on the part of Zimbabwe, cultural interaction has become somewhat unidirectional thereafter with groups visiting here largely for the Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA).
In the last five years, a Goan folk music & dance troupe; and a classical music group led by world renowned Shujaat Hussein Khan; a Kuchipudi dance troupe led by Ms. Sailaja and an Odissi troupe led by Ms. Reela Hota, a 5-member Kathak troupe led by TV Frame, Ms Prachee S. Shah visited Zimbabwe to participate in Harare International Festival of Arts held from 1-5 May 2007. In 2008, two cultural troupes sponsored by the ICCR visited Zimbabwe – a 7-member Bhajan Group of Agnihotri Bandhu in March 2008 and a 12- member Gujarati Folk Dance Group ‘Panghat” in October 2008. A 5-member Kathak troupe led by Ms. S. Mehta participated in 2009 and a 12-member Gujarati Folk Dance Troupe led by Mr. Shivajibhai Bhoye participated at annual HIFA programme from 27 April-3 May, 2010. A 12-member Bhangra troupe, sponsored by ICCR, participated in HIFA in 2012. Another ICCR-sponsored Gujarati dance troupe gave around half a dozen performances in Zimbabwe in November 2012. A Rajasthani dance troupe participated in HIFA in May 2014 and another ICCR- sponsored Gujarati dance group performed in HIFA in May 2015.
A photo exhibition ‘My Land My People’ curated by Raghu Rai was also displayed in Harare. Another photo exhibition titled “Churches and Christian Culture of Goa” was organized at National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare from February 12 to March 4, 2015. India has also been participating in international film festivals in Zimbabwe. Embassy organized successfully in Chancery premises 1st International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2015 in collaboration with Art of Living and Brahma Kumari’s Raj Yoga Centre.
Three editions of Indian Food Festival were held successfully in Meikles Hotel, Harare in November 2012, October 2013 and October 2014 by the Embassy in collaboration with ITDC. Indian Tourist Office Johannesburg participated in World Tourism Expo in Harare on June 18-20, 2015 and for the 2nd consecutive year won the Best Overall Stand Award. Two editions of Indian Handicrafts Exhibitions were organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, India, in collaboration with Embassy in Harare in November 2012 and September-October 2013.
Indian Origin Community
The beginning of Indian presence in Zimbabwe goes back to about 1890 when Indian plantation workers in apartheid South Africa crossed over to the then Southern Rhodesia. At present the number of Zimbabweans of Indian origin, who are predominantly from the province of Gujarat, is estimated at about 9,000. The community has formed societies on religious lines, though they live in harmony. This PIO community has mainly engaged itself in retail trade or export-import business, while the younger generations have mostly moved out of the country for better opportunities as professionals. A few hundred PIOs hold British/Australian passports.
As regards the expatriate Indian community, their number is 500. Some of them are on long term business/work permits while most are professionals engaged in computer software, accountancy, banking, etc. By and large, the Indian community is well respected in Zimbabwe and has maintained cordial relations with the majority community. Senator K. G. Patel was a member of the Politburo and Central Committee of the ruling party, he died in 2011 and was given Hero’s status in 2012. Mr. Bharat Patel is a Supreme Court Judge, Justice (Retd.) Justice Ahmed Ebrahim was awarded Pravasi Bhartiya Samman in 2004.
Note: Content for this article provided by IAFS.in
India Zimbabwe Relations
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