Employment prospects

As the economic strength of China becomes more apparent, the number of students learning Chinese in Zimbabwe has grown by leaps and bounds.

Mushangwe said knowledge of the Chinese language and culture can help broaden local employment prospects.

"For the young people who want to grow in any career, learning Chinese helps expanding professions," he said.

He believes students with high levels of fluency in Chinese will be in demand in the job market in the years to come.

Mushangwe has inspired hundreds of students, many of whom have managed to get scholarships to study in China.

Enhanced ties

As Africa-China ties continue to blossom under the auspices of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthening intercultural communication between the two sides has become imperative.

For him, the language is key to enhancing mutual understanding and can be a good motivator in uniting the two cultures.

Owing to the influx of Chinese investments in the country, it has become imperative for young Zimbabweans to learn Chinese.

As more Chinese businesses flock to Africa, Mushangwe said increased production is closely related to the effectiveness of communication.

"It's not only for the economics," said Mushangwe. "Politically we need the language, economically we need the language, socially we need the language, culturally we need the language."