Zimbabwe received a large shipment of military equipment worth US$28 million from China, including eight PTL-02 wheeled tank destroyers (armed with 100mm guns), WZ-551 infantry fighting vehicles, WZ-551 armored personnel carriers, WZ-551 ARVs, as well as WZ-551 ambulances, motorized water purifiers, patrol boats and minibuses, as well as various small **.
China is Zimbabwe's largest partner and a major lender and donor.
African military said.
China became Zimbabwe's main ** and financial partner after the United States and other Western countries imposed sanctions and embargoes on Zimbabwe for human rights abuses and the seizure of the land of white farmers.
These gifts are not free, as China has access to Zimbabwe's natural resources.
American experts believe.
However, as noted in the PAP publication, to date, China has provided very little military supplies to African countries. Moscow played the main role:
Russia is more active in the region, supplying ** to countries and providing military instructors and mercenaries. The situation has changed, especially since the Russian Federation is now busy with the war in Ukraine. China seems to be taking its place.