Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Johannesburg to attend the 15th BRICS Leaders' Meeting and paid a state visit to South Africa, and delivered an important speech titled Unity, Cooperation, Development, and Brave Responsibility for Peace.
Our excellent international alumni and current director of the China Zimbabwe Exchange Center, Donald Rushambwa, gave an interview to Xinhua News. He expressed his expectation that China plays a significant role in promoting south-south cooperation as it is one of the biggest economies in the global south. Its Global market share & national GDP in the global south makes it the best candidate to help other countries in the region. Its foreign policies such as the BRI & FOCAC will help present an opportunity for the global south to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This is not his first time taken the interview with authoritative Chinese media. In September 2020 he was interviewed by China's Central Television, leave comment on the President Xi Jinping's important lecture during the general debate of the 75th United Nations General Assembly.Due to his research background he was chosen as the correspondent for presenting opinions on China-Zimbabwe relations especially on the topic of multilateral ism and China's foreign policies such as the Belt and Road Initiative and FOCAC. It was also a great opportunity as he got several interviews afterwards and he is now the resident correspondent for Xinhua News in Zimbabwe on matters of China-Africa relations.
Let's listen to his story together.
Donald Rushambwa was a student at Zhejiang Gongshang University from 2014-2018. He studied International Law and was among one of the best students in the Class of 14Q. He received the award for Outstanding Graduate of the Year 2018 in the School of Law. He was also appointed as the Vice President of the Alumni Association of International Students.
During my study at Zhejiang Gongshang University I learnt a lot. The diversity of the learning environment and students made it exciting and an experience to remember. Our teachers were professional and up to world class standard. My favorite courses were International Law by Prof Song Jie, International Criminal Law by Prof Suzannah Linton, Corporate Law by Prof Pei Bei and Arbitration by Prof Margarita.
|
|
Upon Graduating with his Bachelor’s Degree Donald returned to his home country of Zimbabwe. His main goal was to utilize what he had learnt in China for the betterment of his country and community. China is advanced in various areas and such exposure proved to be beneficial for Zimbabwe.
|
|
Due to his background of studying in China, Donald managed to get a Job in the capital Harare with an organization called China Africa Economic and Culture Exchange and Research Center (CAECERC). He got a position as project officer. CAECERC is a Non-Governmental Organization that specialized in being a Chinese research & think-tank center in Zimbabwe. He contributed intensively in the growth of the organization as he managed to connect the organization with many communities and brought development to those communities through the organization. In 2020 he was promoted to project manager in the organization. As project manager he managed to initiate the China Zimbabwe Friendship Scholarship. A project which has seen over 600 underprivileged students getting scholarships to further their studies in Zimbabwe and China.
In 2022 he was promoted to General Manager and Board secretary. His expertise in China and Africa relations landed him this role. Ever since his promotion he has contributed immensely to community development through projects such as;
1.Dreamstar Talent Search Competition
2.Zimbabwe Job Fair
3.China- Zimbabwe Friendship Forestry
4.China-Zimbabwe Borehole Drilling project
5.Sanitary pads donation drive
6.Sino-Zim Journalist Awards
|
|
|
|
Donald has been working closely with many Chinese institutions to advance China-Zimbabwe relations. He has done research on behalf of:
1.Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)
2.China Central Television (CCTV)
3.China International Radio
4.Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Zimbabwe
5.Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe
"I am now married and was blessed with Twin Boys in 2021,“ Donald said. Of course, I still hope to return to my prestigious alma mater, Zhejiang Gongshang University, soon to pursue a master's degree."
