By Cremilda Macuácua, China Africa News
HARARE, Zimbabwe August 17, 2026 — Cooperation with China will help African countries accelerate technological transformation and build local capacity in modern technologies, Zimbabwean experts have said.
The remarks were made on the sidelines of this year’s Harare Forum for Africa, held under the theme “Technological Transformation and Global South Modernization.” The forum brought together scholars, policymakers and business leaders to exchange ideas, share experiences and explore new opportunities for China-Africa cooperation.
The discussions come as African countries seek to harness technology to drive economic growth, strengthen industries and create opportunities for a rapidly growing population. Across the continent, governments are increasingly looking to digital technologies, advanced manufacturing and innovation as tools for accelerating development.
Zimbabwean experts said stronger cooperation with China could play an important role in that process by providing access to technology, expertise and investment while helping African countries develop their own technical capabilities.
They emphasized that technological cooperation should go beyond the transfer of equipment and systems. Building local expertise, they said, is essential if African countries are to adapt modern technologies to their own needs and eventually develop homegrown solutions.
The issue of local capacity has become increasingly important as countries across Africa seek to reduce technological dependence and strengthen their ability to participate in the global digital economy. Investments in education, research, skills development and innovation are therefore seen as critical components of technological transformation.
The Harare forum provided a platform for participants to discuss how countries in the Global South can pursue modernization while taking into account their different economic conditions and development priorities.
China-Africa cooperation has expanded across sectors including infrastructure, telecommunications, education, manufacturing and technology. For African countries, such partnerships can offer opportunities to gain access to technical knowledge and investment while strengthening domestic industries.
Experts at the forum also highlighted the importance of ensuring that technological partnerships produce sustainable benefits for local economies. Developing a skilled workforce and strengthening research and innovation institutions will be crucial to ensuring that African countries can make effective use of emerging technologies.
The discussions in Harare underscored a broader shift in the way technological development is viewed in Africa. Technology is increasingly being considered not simply as a tool for improving existing services, but as a foundation for industrial development, economic competitiveness and long-term modernization.
For Zimbabwe and other African countries, closer cooperation with China could therefore provide an avenue for combining access to modern technologies with efforts to build the skills and institutions needed to sustain technological progress.
