This article describes India's development partnership with Zimbabwe: capacity building under ITEC, grant-funded projects such as the Indo-Zim Technology Centres, lines of credit and buyer's credits, humanitarian assistance, and cooperation in defence and other sectors. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of April 2026.

Capacity building under ITEC

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, assistance under the ITEC programme has been a regular feature of India's assistance to Zimbabwe for capacity building. The brief describes ITEC as a successful and much sought after programme in Zimbabwe.

Starting with 3 Zimbabweans in 1985, over 1400 Zimbabweans have been trained in short-term civilian courses in India under ITEC. The brief states that India offers more than 250 scholarships to Zimbabwe under the ITEC program.

The Government of Zimbabwe has selected 71 officers to attend a Train-the-Trainer program to be conducted at Centurion University, Bhubaneshwar. The ceremony for this was organised in December 2024.

Indo-Zim Technology Centres

India granted US$ 5 million for promoting SMEs through Indo-Zim Technology Centres in Zimbabwe, a project inaugurated by President Robert Mugabe in August 2008. A further US$ 2.93 million was granted in 2018 for the upgradation of 17 Indo-Zim Technology Centres.

HMT machines, mostly computer numerical controlled (CNC), under Phase-2 of the US$ 29.1 million Indo-Zim Technology Centre project were inaugurated in February 2019 by President E.D.Mnangagwa. During his visit in June 2022, Minister of State Muraleedharan, together with the Minister of Higher & Tertiary Education Prof. Amon Murwira, commissioned new CNC machines at the Indo-Zim Technology Centre at the HIT Campus in Harare.

India also established a Vocational Training Centre under IFAS-1 at a cost of US$ 1 million, under a grant of the Government of India.

Lines of credit and buyer's credits

The brief records an additional US$ 19.5 million line of credit for the Deka Pumping & River Water Intake System, which it says takes the total to US$ 48.1 million.

Under an Exim Bank of India Buyer's Credit Agreement worth USD 49.92 million, M/s. Ashok Leyland Ltd. supplied around 635 vehicles and spare parts to the Ministry of Tourism & Hospitality Industry in October 2015. Under a similar facility from Exim Bank of India, BEML Ltd supplied mining equipment, a blast hole drill and spare parts worth USD 13.03 million to Hwange Colliery Company Ltd.

Humanitarian assistance

The brief records the following assistance:

  • August 2016: a grant of US$ 1 million and an announced aid of 500 tons of rice, in response to Zimbabwe's international appeal after a national drought disaster
  • June 2017: a grant of US $ 1 million in response to the 2016-17 flood disaster, followed by 500 metric ton of rice in November 2017
  • 2019-2020: emergency medicines worth US$ 2.2 million and 1,000 MT of rice, in pursuance of announcements made during the Vice President's visit in November 2018
  • 2021: 75,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine COVAXIN and 10 ambulances
  • December 2024: 1,000 MT of rice

Health and community projects

During his visit from 6-8 June 2022, Minister of State V. Muraleedharan gifted anti-TB medicines worth about US$ 100,000. He also donated a consignment of 950 sewing machines to the Angel of Hope Foundation, which runs under the patronage of the First Lady.

A US$ 1 million project for Climate Resilient Agriculture in the districts of Chiredzi and Mangwe was funded through the India UN Development Partnership Fund in 2021.

A state-of-the-art ECD Block named after Mahatma Gandhi, at Masuku Primary School in Bulawayo, was built with Indian quick developmental project assistance. It was inaugurated in July 2024 in the presence of the Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Judith Ncube, and the Deputy Minister of Industry & Commerce, Raj Modi.

Defence cooperation

India and Zimbabwe signed an MoU on Defence Cooperation in February 2025, during the visit of Zimbabwe's Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs to Aero India-2025 in Bengaluru.

The maiden Mini Defence Expo and Industry Interaction was organised by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, with the Ministry of Defence of Zimbabwe and the Strategic Research and Growth Foundation (SGRF) India on 21 March 2025. The Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, was the Chief Guest, and the Ambassador made the welcome address.

Energy

Zimbabwe's energy ministers have attended Indian energy events. Deputy Minister of Energy & Power Development Magna Mudyiwa took part in India Energy Week from 6-8 February 2023, and Minister for Energy and Power Development Mr. Zhemu Soda led a delegation to ELECRAMA in February 2023. Hon. July Moyo, Minister of Energy & Power Development, took part in India Energy Week in Goa in January 2026.