SWITZERLAND has pledged to deepen its cooperation with Zimbabwe across various sectors of the economy, including investment, development, and the arts, as the two nations continue to nurture longstanding diplomatic relations.
The commitment was reaffirmed during an event held in Harare on Friday to mark Switzerland’s National Day, commemorated annually on the 1st of August. The day celebrates the signing of the Federal Charter in 1291, Switzerland’s foundational constitutional document.
Speaking at the event, Swiss Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Stéphane Rey, highlighted shared values between the two countries and underscored Switzerland’s ongoing support for Zimbabwe’s social and economic development.
“The first of August marks the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291, when three provinces that we call cantons said ‘no thanks’ to foreign rule and forged a pact of freedom and unity. Switzerland was born in a mountain meadow with determination in its heart. Zimbabwe’s journey to independence echoes this spirit.
“In 1980, Zimbabwe broke free from colonial domination with the same tenacity and vision. Different contexts, different paths, but the same shared thirst for sovereignty and dignity. Zimbabwe’s greatest asset is its people, especially its dynamic, determined youth. Through the Swiss Support to Arts Development in Zimbabwe, also known as the SSADZA programme, Switzerland has supported over 400 artists, most of them young women. And with 400-plus applications received in our latest call, the creative energy here is explosive,” Ambassador Rey said.
Zimbabwe’s Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr Pearson Chigiji, reiterated Zimbabwe’s open for business mantra, expressing the country’s commitment to the debt resolution conversation.
“The relationship between Zimbabwe and the Swiss Confederation is one of enduring goodwill, practical cooperation, and yet full of untapped potential. Over the years, over the decades, we have worked with Switzerland in times of transformation, challenges, and renewal. Through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland has supported a range of developmental and humanitarian programmes in Zimbabwe, including enhancing resilience in rural communities and improving access to clean water.
“Your investments in humanitarian relief, especially during climatic shocks and health emergencies like COVID-19 have not gone unnoticed. They speak to the Swiss philosophy of solidarity without interference, a model of support that respects national ownership.
“In the economic realm, Swiss enterprises have expressed increasing interest in Zimbabwe’s agro-processing, tourism, infrastructure, and green energy sectors. We warmly welcome additional Swiss investment across a wide spectrum of our economy. Zimbabwe is open for business. The Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPA) between our two nations provides the legal foundation for secure and mutually beneficial investment, and we encourage more Swiss companies to explore the vast opportunities in Zimbabwe’s growing economy,” Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr Pearson Chigiji noted.
Switzerland is one of the leading European investors in Zimbabwe, with investments in manufacturing and infrastructure, while the Swiss Support to Arts Development in Zimbabwe is making significant contributions to the growth of the local arts sector.
