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Embassy of India, Harare Embassy of Zimbabwe, New Delhi Ambassador
R. Masakui Ambassador
Maxwell Ranga | ||
India-Zimbabwe relations are bilateral relations between India and Zimbabwe.
Contents
History
Indian merchants established trade links with Zimbabwe during the Kingdom of Mutapa, and engaged in the trade of textiles, minerals and metals. Several members of the royal family of Mutapa were educated in India.
India supported Zimbabwe's independence movement. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi attended the country's independence day celebrations in 1980. Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao and H. D. Deve Gowda visited Zimbabwe in 1986, 1991, and 1996 to participate in the NAM Summit, CHOGM Summit, and G-15 Summit respectively. Presidents R. Venkataraman and S. D. Sharma made state visits to the country in 1991 and 1995 respectively.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has visited India on several occasions - 1981, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1994, and 2015.
Economic relations
Bilateral trade between India and Zimbabwe totaled US$ 222.31 million in 2014-15. Indian exports to Zimbabwe stood at $222.19 million, while imports stood at $120,000.
Indian public sector firms such as Indian Railway Construction Company (IRCON), Rail India Technical & Economic Services (RITES), Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) and Telecommunications India Ltd. (TCIL) are active in Zimbabwe. Kirloskar and Jain Irrigation supply pumps and irrigation equipment to Zimbabwe. Indian pharmaceutical firms have a strong presence in the Zimbabwean market and Indian-made medicines are commonly found in the country.
In April 2008, Chadha Power of India secured a contract to refurbish four units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station near Victoria Falls.
Indian foreign aid
India is involved in human resource development and capacity building efforts in Zimbabwe. India provides ITEC and ICCR scholarships to Zimbabwean citizens.
In 2003, India donated 50,000 tonnes of rice to help Zimbabwe overcome severe drought. On 23 March 2015, 500 tonnes of rice was donated.
Indians in Zimbabwe
The Indian presence in Zimbabwe dates back to 1890, when Indian plantation workers in apartheid South Africa crossed the border into Southern Rhodesia.
As of October 2016, an estimated 9000 Zimbabwean citizens are of Indian origin, mostly Gujarati. Indian Zimbabwean Senator K.G. Patel served as member of the Politburo and Central Committee of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front. Patel died in 2011, and was declared a national hero in 2012. Indian Zimbabweans Bharat Patel and Ahmed Ebrahim have served as justices of the Supreme Court.
Around 500 Indian citizens were resident in Zimbabwe as of October 2016. Most of them are professionals working in computer software, accounting and banking.