Zimbabwe should continue to pursue its own development path despite the challenges that have been brought by the illegal sanctions imposed by Western countries, a visiting top Chinese military official has said.

The deputy director of the People’s Liberation Army General Political Department Admiral Tong Shipping said this at a dinner hosted in his honour on Wednesday by the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantine Chiwenga.

“We know that the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe have brought difficulties on Zimbabwe but we believe this will not hinder Zimbabwe to pursue its own development path and that the Zimbabwean people will not waver in their resistance to interference from outsiders,” he said.

Admiral Tong said Zimbabwe, under the leadership of President Mugabe, had resisted the Western machinations and pledged continued assistance from China.

“Under the great leadership of President Mugabe, Zimbabweans have worked hard and overcome their challenges. We are happy to assist our friends overcome their difficulties, these are just a short term phenomena and there is great potential in Zimbabwe’s future,” Admiral Tong said.

He said Zimbabwe was a beautiful country endowed with many natural resources that should be used for the benefit of its people. Admiral Tong said there was need to strengthen relations between the ZDF and the PLA in various fields.

Gen Chiwenga commended support rendered by the Chinese to Zimbabwe.

“It is a truism that Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle would not have been the same without the unwavering support from the People’s Republic of China, which support continues to flourish even to this day,” he said.

Gen Chiwenga narrated how Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and four other cadres were the first group to receive military training in China. He said interaction between the two armies was essential. Gen Chiwenga said Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle was to ensure that Zimbabweans have access to their land and resources.

“When Zimbabwe embarked on the land reform programme, the Western world and their allies rallied against us and imposed illegal sanctions that have brought about untold suffering to our people, who despite the attendant harsh economic conditions have persevered to this day,” he said.

Added General Chiwenga: “However, the consoling developments were that China stood by us during the hour of need on July 12, 2008 at the UN Security Council meeting when she exercised her veto power against imposition of UN sanctions against Zimbabwe under the sinister Chapter 7, which has been used to bully and abuse smaller and weaker nations endowed with resources.”

He thanked China for seconding military instructors to the Zimbabwe Staff College saying this not only benefited Zimbabwe but also the region as a whole as other countries in the Sadc had their officers at the institution.