In the video, Gambakwe discusses Chinese investors in Zimbabwe, particularly in the context of recent unrest and complaints about their conduct [03:09]. He addresses concerns that Chinese investors are not following rules and are not treating local people well [03:21].
However, Gambakwe states that he doesn’t believe Zimbabwe has a big problem with Chinese investors, considering the issues to be isolated incidents [03:59]. He emphasizes the global presence of Chinese investors and their necessity for Zimbabwe’s economy, highlighting their involvement in:
- Construction: He mentions the plan to build 160 new towns and high-speed rail, stating that this cannot be done without Chinese technology and capacity [04:54].
- Telecommunications: He points out that much of the cell phone technology and telecommunications infrastructure in Southern Africa is built and run by Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE [05:09].
- Mining: While acknowledging existing Chinese involvement in mining, he suggests there is scope for them to do more in other sectors [05:43].
Gambakwe also addresses a specific incident where someone was killed and Chinese people were reportedly beaten, noting that the police took time to arrive [06:15]. He refers to a statement by the Chinese Ambassador, Zhao Ding, who called for a police investigation into the matter [06:48]. Gambakwe agrees that an investigation is needed to determine what truly happened, urging for evidence such as footage to clarify the situation [07:04]. He reiterates that such incidents are isolated and not indicative of a widespread problem where Chinese investors are randomly causing issues [08:32].
He concludes by stating that Chinese investors are crucial for Zimbabwe’s development and modernization, but stresses the need for clear rules on how they operate [11:10]. He also highlights the limitations of the Zimbabwean police and government in enforcing these rules [10:41].
