Zimbabwe is set to host one of its largest industrial investments in recent years, with Chinese company Jiangmen Tengxin Motorcycle Technology Co. Ltd. announcing plans to establish a US$100 million electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in the country.
The firm, which exports to 33 countries and produces up to 500,000 engines annually, has been in talks with Zimbabwean authorities for nearly a year. According to official documents, the project is expected to create at least 5,000 permanent jobs, with opportunities particularly targeting youth and women.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Tongai Mnangagwa confirmed the development, saying the government was “delighted” to receive the proposal, which aligns with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “Zimbabwe is open for business” policy. A Chinese delegation is scheduled to arrive in Zimbabwe in February 2026 to finalize investment requirements.
“We haven’t discussed their specific needs. We will finalize those details when they arrive early next year,” Mnangagwa told TV 47’s correspondent.
The project will also include skills transfer initiatives, with Chinese engineers expected to train Zimbabwean workers in advanced EV technology. At least 90 locals will be recruited for specialized technical positions.
Once approved, the plant is projected to take three years to become fully operational, positioning Zimbabwe as a distribution hub for the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The facility will manufacture components, assemble electric scooters, and ship them across the region, including to Malawi.
The investment was facilitated by Agilitee founder and former CEO Mandla Lamba, who introduced the Chinese investors to the Zimbabwean government.
Regional stakeholders have welcomed the move. Watson Maingo, Public Relations Officer at Malawi’s Ministry of Transport and Public Works, said the rise of electric mobility represents a crucial technological shift.
“As Malawi, we need to move with technology, so EV is much welcome. We are working on regulations and protocols that will facilitate electric vehicle operations in Malawi once the technology is fully adopted,” he said.
The initiative places Zimbabwe firmly within the global transition to electric mobility, aligning with international efforts to reduce carbon emissions and expand green technology manufacturing. It also supports SADC industrialization goals and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), positioning Zimbabwe as a key player in Africa’s emerging EV supply chain.
This Zimbabwean investment highlights the ongoing regional race for green technology dominance. While $100 million is a significant win for Harare, Kenya is actively pursuing similar, and in some cases larger, EV projects to become East Africa’s manufacturing hub. Just recently, a local firm backed by UAE investors broke ground on a US$150 million EV plant in Olkaria, Naivasha, leveraging Kenya’s abundant geothermal power to produce up to 50,000 EV units annually. This underscores Kenya’s policy push and geothermal energy advantage as it seeks to attract the continent’s biggest green investment deals and compete directly with its regional neighbors.
