| Envoytitle1: | Ambassador |
| Envoy1: | Bramha Kumar [1] |
| Envoytitle2: | Ambassador |
| Envoy2: | Dr. Godfrey Majoni Chipare[2] |
| Mission1: | Embassy of India, Harare |
| Mission2: | Embassy of Zimbabwe, New Delhi |
India–Zimbabwe relations are bilateral relations between India and Zimbabwe.[3] [4]
India and Zimbabwe have a long history of close and cordial relations. During theera of the Munhumutapa Kingdom, Indian merchants established strong links withZimbabwe, trading in textiles, minerals and metals. Sons of the royal house ofMunhumutapa journeyed to India to broaden their education. In the 17th century, a greatson of Zimbabwe, Dom Miguel – Prince, Priest and Professor, and heir to the imperialthrone of the Mutapas – studied in Goa. An inscribed pillar stands today at a chapel inGoa, a tribute to his intellectual stature. India supported Zimbabwe's freedom struggle.Former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi attended Zimbabwean independencecelebrations in 1980.[5]
There were frequent exchanges of high-level visits in the past, bilateral or toattend Summits such as NAM, CHOGM and G-15. Former Prime Minister Shri Vajpayeeand President Mugabe met twice in the year 2003 on the sidelines of UNGA and NAMSummit. Former President Mugabe attended the IAFS-III held Delhi in 2015.
India supported Zimbabwe's independence movement. The then-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.[3]
Assistance to Zimbabwe under the ITEC programme has been a regular feature ofIndia's assistance to Zimbabwe for capacity building. ITEC and ICCR scholarships aremuch sought after by Zimbabweans. In 2017–18, 235 ITEC slots, 9 ICCR slots and 34IAFS-III slots were utilised. During the period April–December 2018, 169 ITEC slots, 5defence ITEC slots and 9 ICCR scholarships have been utilized. Over 1400Zimbabweans have been trained in short-term civilian courses in India under the ITECprogramme over the last ten years.
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in collaboration with ZimTrade conductedExecutive Development Programme on International Business from 17 to 21 November,2014 in Harare and another such Programme from March 9–13, 2015 in Bulawayo.Through various memoranda of understanding entered with institutions of greatrepute in India, The Harare Institute of Technology [HIT] is sending its students to variousUniversities to get degrees in Master of Technology in various disciplines such as DelhiTechnological University; Amity University, Manessar; Sharda University; JawaharlalNehru Technological University; Vellore Institute of Technology; Rabindranath TagoreUniversity; IIT Madras; Indian Institute of Welding; National Institute of Foundry andForging Technology; Marwadi University; IIT Kharagpur; Kalinga Institute of IndustrialTechnology; Institute of Technology and Management and Sri Ramaswamy MemorialInstitute of Science and Technology.
Under the Presidential and National |Scholarship Programme, Government ofZimbabwe has sent 42 students to Shimla University in 2018. The scholarshipprogramme is co-sponsored by the Shimla University[7]
Bilateral trade between India and Zimbabwe totalled US$222.31 million in 2014–15. Indian exports to Zimbabwe stood at $222.19 million, while imports stood at $120,000.[3] Zimbabwe has, of late, started following 'Look East Policy' and India is now lookedupon as important trading as well as a business partner.
| Bilateral Trade Year(April–March) | Exports to Zimbabwe(in million US$) | Imports from Zimbabwe(in million US$) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 113.95 | 11.56 | |
| 2011-12 | 171.72 | 6.89 | |
| 2012-13 | 153.19 | 34.54 | |
| 2013-14 | 158.06 | 12.50 | |
| 2014-15 | 223.96 | 32.70 | |
| 2015-16 | 205.08 | 24.45 | |
| 2016-17 | 109.08 | 60.46 | |
| 2017-18 | 163.54 | 62.20 |
India and Zimbabwe signed a Joint Commission Agreement in January 1987. Fourmeetings of the Joint Commission have been held so far – first in New Delhi in April1987; second in Harare in February 1989; third in New Delhi in October 1990 and thefourth in Harare in January 1996. No Joint Commission meeting has been held since1996 mainly due to Zimbabwe's economic turmoil. Dates for holding 5th JCM in Delhi arebeing worked out.
An SoM was held in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi in February2012, 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.[8]
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.[3]
In April 2008, Chadha Power of India secured a contract to refurbish four units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station near Victoria Falls.[3]
India is involved in human resource development and capacity building efforts in Zimbabwe. India provides ITEC and ICCR scholarships to Zimbabwean citizens.[3] India gave assistance of 50,000 tonnes of rice in 2003 when Zimbabweexperienced severe drought. Another similar assistance of 500 tonnes of rice was givenon March 23, 2015. India granted US$5 million for promoting SMEs (Indo-ZimbabweTechnology Centre) in Zimbabwe, a project inaugurated by President Robert Mugabe onAugust 4, 2008. The final phase of the project completed in February 2013. India setup three 'Hole-In-The-Wall' computer learning stations in 2012. India is in the process ofsetting up a Vocational Training Center (under IAFS-I) and a Food Testing Laboratory(FTL) and a Rural Technology Park (RTP) under IAFS-II under aid budget. There hasbeen no movement forward in the case of FTL and RTP. Besides, under GOI Line ofCredit (LOC) worth US$28.6 million upgradation of Deka Pumping Station and RiverWater Intake System is in progress. An additional LOC of US$19 million has beenextended for this project. Another LOC Agreement worth US$87 million was signed onOctober 27, 2015, in New Delhi on the sidelines of IAFS-III between the Government ofZimbabwe and the EXIM Bank of India for renovation/upgradation of Bulawayo ThermalPower Plant. An additional US$23 million has been extended for this project. Under theEXIM Bank of India's Buyer's Credit Agreement worth US$49.92 million, M/s. AshokLeyland Ltd. supplied around 635 vehicles and spare parts to the Ministry of Tourism &Hospitality Industry in October 2015. Under the similar facility from EXIM Bank of India,BEML Ltd, India supplied worth US$13.03 million mining equipment and blast hole drilland spare parts to Hwange Colliery Company Ltd., Zimbabwe. The mining equipmentwas commissioned on June 19, 2015, by Zimbabwean Vice President PhelekezelaMphoko.
During the visit of Hon'ble Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu to Zimbabwe inNovember 2018 the following announcements were made: US$310 million LOC for upgradation of Hwange Thermal Power Station, additional US$23 million LOC forrehabilitation of Bulawayo Thermal Power Plant and an additional US$19.5 million Line ofCredit for Deka Pumping & river Water Intake System; grant for construction of MahatmaGandhi Convention Centre, US$2.93 million grant for Up-gradation of INDO-ZimTechnology Centre and Gifting of 10 Indian made Ambulances, gifting of lifesaving drugsand deputation of experts in five specialized areas.[9]
See main article: Indians in Zimbabwe.
The beginning of Indian presence in Zimbabwe goes back to about 1890 whenIndian plantation workers in apartheid South Africa crossed over to the then Rhodesia under the British South Africa Company. At present, the number of Zimbabweans of Indian origin, who arepredominantly from the province of Gujarat, is estimated at 9,000. The communityhas formed societies on religious lines, though they live in harmony. This PIOcommunity has mainly engaged itself in retail trade or export-import business, while theyounger generations have mostly moved out of the country for better opportunities asprofessionals. A few hundred PIOs hold British/Australian passports.As regards the expatriate Indian community, their number is 500. Some of themare on long-term business/work permits while most are professionals engaged incomputer software, accountancy, banking, etc.
By and large, the Indian community is well respected in Zimbabwe and hasmaintained cordial relations with the majority community. Senator K. G. Patel was amember of the Politburo and Central Committee of the ruling party, he died in 2011 andwas 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. JusticeBharat Patel, a PIO and High Court Judge, was appointed the judge of the SupremeCourt of Zimbabwe in May 2013. Mr Raj Modi who was elected as ZANU-PF Member ofParliament from Bulawayo South has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Industry andCommerce in September 2018.[10]