Economic repercussions of the Look East Policy in Zimbabwe
Date
2016
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Abstract
In 2003, Zimbabwe formally announced the Look East Policy (LEP) in the face of economic
sanctions by the West. This, coupled with the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) of
2000, has strengthened trade and bi-lateral investments between Zimbabwe and China. China
is increasingly involved in Zimbabwe’s agriculture, mining, construction and tourism industries.
There is also an influx of Chinese entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe’s retail industry. The repercussions
of the LEP have been mixed. In this policy brief, we critically engage with three sectors:
agriculture, mining and the informal sector; in order to provide an overview of the effects that
LEP has had on Zimbabwe focusing on the period 2010-2016. We also propound some recommendations
for more positive outcomes in the future.
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Keywords
China, Zimbabwe, Look East, Investment