China-Zimbabwe economic relations in the post land reform era : An assessment on the impact of the lock east foreign policy (2003-2017)

In the wake of Zimbabwe’s controversial Land Reform Programme and the subsequent imposition of Western sanctions, the country faced international isolation and serious economic decline. In response, the Zimbabwean government adopted the Look East Policy in 2003, seeking to strengthen economic and political ties with China and other East Asian countries as alternative partners for trade, investment, and development cooperation. Despite its political significance, the policy’s actual economic outcomes and implications for Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and sustainable development remain underexplored in scholarly literature. This study aims to investigate the role of China- Zimbabwe economic relations in the post-Land Reform Era, with particular emphasis on the implementation of Zimbabwe’s Look East Policy from 2003 to 2017. This study analyses the roles and perspectives of key stakeholders, including East Asian countries engaged under the policy, the Chinese government, Chinese companies operating in Zimbabwe, local business entrepreneurs, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working with local communities. It also assesses the benefits of China’s trade and investment to Zimbabwe, the factors motivating China’s investment decisions, and the impact of Zimbabwe’s exports to China on its economy since the policy’s adoption. A qualitative research approach was employed, using purposive sampling and grounded in Realism theory to analyse the dynamics between political strategy, economic engagement, and development outcomes. The findings indicate that Chinese investment enabled Zimbabwe over come international isolation and Western sanctions, thereby contributing to the policy’s success. Zimbabwe also recorded growth in its agricultural and mining sectors. However, other East Asian countries had refrained from assisting Zimbabwe due to concerns about potential Western backlash. The study also exposes that China did not always act fairly towards Zimbabwe, instead exploiting the country’s vulnerable political and economic position and contributing to environmental degradation, particularly through mining operations. It concludes that strengthening Zimbabwe’s human rights record, ensuring a consistent and predictable policy framework, and implementing effective anti-corruption measures are imperative for fostering investor confidence, stimulating sustainable economic growth, and increasing government revenues