Wealthy Chinese reshape Zimbabwe economy with luxury homes, lithium bets

A surge of wealthy Chinese investors is reshaping Zimbabwe’s economy — from the manicured lawns of its most exclusive suburbs to the lithium-rich belts that power the global electric vehicle boom — in a shift that is driving growth but also raising concerns over regulation, taxation and social friction. In the capital Harare, estate agents say demand from affluent Chinese buyers has transformed the luxury housing market, with properties in prime neighbourhoods now fetching between $500,000 and $2 million. Agencies are hiring Mandarin-speaking staff, while sellers are increasingly fielding all-cash offers that allow deals to close quickly and often outside…