The Sunday Mail
So much has been written about President Mugabe’s recent visit to China. Some have said the trip to China was a waste of resources. Others have said Zimbabwe is mortgaging its resources to China while some are even going to the extent of saying Zimbabwe had gone to China to beg for a new form of colonisation.
According to some people President Mugabe was supposed to come back from China with trailer-loads of cash. China was supposed to instantly pour its cash into Zimbabwe and by now the liquidity crunch was supposed to have been history.
But then China is not like arrogant America and China does not conduct its business the way imperialists in the West do. Already China has a huge presence in Africa and there was no need to hurry the Zimbabwean deals. By the way, this may be new to some people, but China has been giving aid to Africa since 1956 and since that time, China has never sought to colonise Africa and has never put conditions that border on treating Africa like some little brother. Since 1956, China has been treating Africa like any other trade partner. No big brother mentality. No hidden agendas.
And so when President Mugabe flew to China, like a true friend from a long time ago, China was very realistic and did not create false hope. True friends tell each other the truth and China did just that. Isnt it they say cash talk breaks no friendship?
Investment deals estimated to be around US$4 billion were signed during the visit and China was very clear that it would only fund viable projects. In short, China said “we have the money, go sort yourselves and we will fund your viable projects.” We all know that China has lots of money and even America is worried sick because of this simple fact.
According to economist Yan Wang from Peking University, China accounts for more than 30 percent of total value of infrastructure projects in Africa. China knows whats lacking in Africa which is infrastructure development. If you ask America, you will be told that whats lacking in Africa are human rights, good governance, rule of law and democracy. Silly excuses to plunder and loot resources from Africa.
So as it stands, China has played its part and now its up to Zimbabwe to meet its side of the bargain. And this is where the problems start. Is Zimbabwe ready to meet its side of the bargain? Will Zimbabwe play its part?
From the views and comments that have been made since the President returned from China, its clear that the world is watching what Zimbabwe will do with this golden opportunity that it has been presented with.
Our sins from the past quickly come to mind. Zimbabwe spent lots of resources and many Zimbabwean soldiers died defending the DRC, but up to this day, many Zimbabweans feel President Kabila hasnt really paid us back for the timely assistance. But then the question is, after assisting the DRC militarily, what did Zimbabwe do to benefit economically? Somewhere somehow the story is that Zimbabwe did not play its part.
We move from the DRC to Equatorial Guinea and the sad story continues to haunt us. In 2004, Zimbabwe foiled a coup in Equatorial Guinea after the country’s security agents arrested mercenaries who were on their way to Malabo to assasinate that country’s President Theodoro Obiang Nguema and stage a coup.
In January 2012, President Nguema came to Zimbabwe to thank President Mugabe for foiling the coup and his words still ring loud in the minds of those who were at State House. “Zimbabwe was instrumental in helping us foil the attempted coup that happened in 2004 against Equatorial Guinea…We are looking forward to establish co-operation links that will enable us strengthen this relationship more in terms of implementing projects and other issues that will help us to do do,” said President Nguema.
Obviously, there was some activity soon after this pledge on the economic front but in no time, Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea seem like they have no special connection. Did we really benefit from foiling the coup in Equatorial Guinea? Again Zimbabweans feel we didnt do enough to benefit from the close ties we had established after foiling the coup.
Stories are told about how Zimbabwe messed its deals with close friends such as Libya and Russia by failing to meet its side of the bargain. The trend is worrisome.
Now the Chinese have said “play your part.” Will Zimbabwe play its part? The red lights are flashing already and we hope this time we wont squander this golden opportunity.
There is so much politics going on. So much succession politics threatening to tear Zanu-PF apart. Will Zanu-PF know where to draw the line and give the economy a chance? The prophets of doom are watching. The pessimists are following it all with keen interest. Even America and its neo-colonial friends are hoping for the worst.
Will Zanu-PF prove the enemies of progress wrong? Only time will tell.
EDITORIAL COMMENT: Don’t let succession politics spoil China deals
The Sunday Mail
So much has been written about President Mugabe’s recent visit to China. Some have said the trip to China was a waste of resources. Others have said Zimbabwe is mortgaging its resources to China while some are even going to the extent of saying Zimbabwe had gone to China to beg for a new form of colonisation.
According to some people President Mugabe was supposed to come back from China with trailer-loads of cash. China was supposed to instantly pour its cash into Zimbabwe and by now the liquidity crunch was supposed to have been history.
But then China is not like arrogant America and China does not conduct its business the way imperialists in the West do. Already China has a huge presence in Africa and there was no need to hurry the Zimbabwean deals. By the way, this may be new to some people, but China has been giving aid to Africa since 1956 and since that time, China has never sought to colonise Africa and has never put conditions that border on treating Africa like some little brother. Since 1956, China has been treating Africa like any other trade partner. No big brother mentality. No hidden agendas.
And so when President Mugabe flew to China, like a true friend from a long time ago, China was very realistic and did not create false hope. True friends tell each other the truth and China did just that. Isnt it they say cash talk breaks no friendship?
Investment deals estimated to be around US$4 billion were signed during the visit and China was very clear that it would only fund viable projects. In short, China said “we have the money, go sort yourselves and we will fund your viable projects.” We all know that China has lots of money and even America is worried sick because of this simple fact.
According to economist Yan Wang from Peking University, China accounts for more than 30 percent of total value of infrastructure projects in Africa. China knows whats lacking in Africa which is infrastructure development. If you ask America, you will be told that whats lacking in Africa are human rights, good governance, rule of law and democracy. Silly excuses to plunder and loot resources from Africa.
So as it stands, China has played its part and now its up to Zimbabwe to meet its side of the bargain. And this is where the problems start. Is Zimbabwe ready to meet its side of the bargain? Will Zimbabwe play its part?
From the views and comments that have been made since the President returned from China, its clear that the world is watching what Zimbabwe will do with this golden opportunity that it has been presented with.
Our sins from the past quickly come to mind. Zimbabwe spent lots of resources and many Zimbabwean soldiers died defending the DRC, but up to this day, many Zimbabweans feel President Kabila hasnt really paid us back for the timely assistance. But then the question is, after assisting the DRC militarily, what did Zimbabwe do to benefit economically? Somewhere somehow the story is that Zimbabwe did not play its part.
We move from the DRC to Equatorial Guinea and the sad story continues to haunt us. In 2004, Zimbabwe foiled a coup in Equatorial Guinea after the country’s security agents arrested mercenaries who were on their way to Malabo to assasinate that country’s President Theodoro Obiang Nguema and stage a coup.
In January 2012, President Nguema came to Zimbabwe to thank President Mugabe for foiling the coup and his words still ring loud in the minds of those who were at State House. “Zimbabwe was instrumental in helping us foil the attempted coup that happened in 2004 against Equatorial Guinea…We are looking forward to establish co-operation links that will enable us strengthen this relationship more in terms of implementing projects and other issues that will help us to do do,” said President Nguema.
Obviously, there was some activity soon after this pledge on the economic front but in no time, Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea seem like they have no special connection. Did we really benefit from foiling the coup in Equatorial Guinea? Again Zimbabweans feel we didnt do enough to benefit from the close ties we had established after foiling the coup.
Stories are told about how Zimbabwe messed its deals with close friends such as Libya and Russia by failing to meet its side of the bargain. The trend is worrisome.
Now the Chinese have said “play your part.” Will Zimbabwe play its part? The red lights are flashing already and we hope this time we wont squander this golden opportunity.
There is so much politics going on. So much succession politics threatening to tear Zanu-PF apart. Will Zanu-PF know where to draw the line and give the economy a chance? The prophets of doom are watching. The pessimists are following it all with keen interest. Even America and its neo-colonial friends are hoping for the worst.
Will Zanu-PF prove the enemies of progress wrong? Only time will tell.
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