Mugabe, 91, is reported to have prevailed against Microsoft founder Bill Gates and South Korean President Park Geun-hye for this year's Confucius Peace Prize. China developed the alternative award in 2010 out of frustration after the Nobel committee awarded its prize to Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese dissident and democracy activist who remains in jail.
Past recipients of the Confucius Prize include Fidel Castro and Vladimir Putin, two authoritarian leaders that have also been assailed for persecuting their citizens and sowing instability abroad.
Beijing says these autocratic leaders have helped preserve security and stability in their countries.
"Though its economy is lagging behind, [Zimbabwe is] a very stable country [and] stability is precious in the African continent," said Qiao Damo, chairman of the Confucius Prize committee, on its decision to honor Mugabe.
Rick Fisher, an expert on China at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, said it would be a "mistake" to dismiss Beijing's prize as a meaningless gesture.
No doubt our very own 2009 'Nobel Peace Prize' winner will give Comrade Bob a congratulatory call.