China helps Zimbabwe grow US$1.2 billion tobacco crop amid debt, health concerns
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China's investment has revitalized Zimbabwe's tobacco industry, which faced collapse after land reforms and Western sanctions. Driven by Chinese demand, Zimbabwe produced a record 352.7 million kilograms of tobacco, valued at US$1.2 billion, in the last marketing season. China, through companies like Tian Ze Tobacco Company, provides financial and technical support to Zimbabwean farmers. Tobacco is Zimbabwe's largest agricultural export, with China importing US$790 million worth in the last year. The revival began in 2005 with a memorandum of understanding between Harare and the China National Tobacco Corporation, securing tobacco supplies for Beijing. The industry's growth, however, raises health concerns.
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