Zimbabwe is gateway for China’s colonization of Africa

Published: October 24, 2009

Harare(ZimEye) “We are enjoying Chinese food,” says the caption on a photograph of Zimbabwean children eating rice with potatoes and drinking Coca Cola at the recent Tianjin international arts festival in China.

Posted outside the old Chinese embassy building here, this is the image Beijing wants the world to see. It is the story they want people to believe. That of China as the benevolent ‘co-operating partner’ filling the shoes of the ‘evil’ West that has imposed personal sanctions on Zimbabwe’s ruling elite and withdrawn its investments after exploiting the country’s wealth for more than a century.

All over Africa, the story is the same. Overly polite Chinese diplomats taking part in small functions, giving teddy bears to children and trying hard to please the locals. This is what they do in public. In private, however, the story is entirely different.

The recent announcement by China that it is providing $7.9 billion in ‘loans’ to the Camara military junta that recently took power in Guinea through a coup d’etat has re-ignited debate about China’s real intentions in Africa.

“Blood and money in the streets” screams a headline on the investigative website Africa-Asia-Confidential.com. The story is all too familiar: China using its financial might to prop up and abet an unelected, unpopular military regime in exchange for the country’s fabulous oil wealth.

The pattern is familiar and it has been repeated many times across Africa. Unelected officials are by nature jittery. They are not popular at home, so they need weapons to pulverize the local population and keep themselves in power. They are under constant pressure internationally, so they need diplomatic support at the United Nations. A ‘friend’ like China can provide all that. For a price.

Official statistics show that 800 Chinese state firms are managing some 900 projects in Africa, mostly in oil production and mining. China’s trade with Africa is expected to rise to $100 billion annually in 2010, a significant part of that involving the exploitation of Zimbabwe’s platinum mines. Sources say the Chinese military has a special interest in Zimbabwe’s aluminium and zinc.

But the big question is, why is China so enthusiastic about a continent in turmoil, where corruption, mismanagement and political strife have forced even the most resilient Western firms to give up? Zimbabwe in particular is littered with failed deals and broken promises for international investors. Having failed to honour international investment agreements, the regime of Robert Mugabe has developed a standard strategy for dealing with the disgruntled investors: kick them out, using violence and threats!

So why are the Chinese rushing in where angels fear to tread?

The answer, though speculative, may lie in China’s own plan, which may be more ruthless than what the most ruthless of African leaders, like Mugabe can conceive.

Pinning down a dictator

After Mugabe was defeated by arch-rival Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for democratic Change at the polls in March 2008, his most trusted aide, Emmerson Mnangagwa devised a new survival plan. Instead of giving up power as expected, Mnangagwa and a small band of senior army officers known as the Joint Operations Command (JOC) took over the running of the country. They deliberately delayed announcing the results while figuring out what to do next. They told Mugabe to stay put until their plan came together.

In the meantime pressure was mounting all over. The United States and other members of the UN Security Council were demanding tough action on Harare. In essence some people were calling for Mugabe’s removal by force and a swift trial at the Hague – Saddam Hussein-style.

The Chinese could help. And the Russians. Provided there was sufficient incentive for it.

In 2007, the Chinese government had been forced to abandon a deal to supply a consignment of weapons to Harare due to international pressure. The Beijing Olympics were looming. China was in no position to be seen violating international codes, in particular an arms embargo against Zimbabwe. China was forced to issue a statement re-affirming a commitment to only supply ‘humanitarian assistance’ to Harare.

However, in the confused and confusing atmosphere following Mugabe’s defeat, Harare became desperate and some say, China was tempted by the offers made by Mnangagwa.

In exchange for F-1 jetfighters, vehicles and an assortment of weapons, Mugabe would give the Chinese platinum, lithium, aluminium, zinc and diamonds.

Above all the Chinese could actually get farms, which they had been promised for many years but which had never been delivered. With a worldwide food crisis looming, China could use Zimbabwean land to grow food crops. They had tried Zambia, with a measure of success after Mugabe failed to deliver in 2004, but Zimbabwe’s infrastructure offered better prospects for commercial agriculture in the long run, at lower cost since many of the people required to run the enterprises were already well-trained by the British. So the weapons came, amid much controversy and Zimbabwe is now at the mercy of the Chinese, who now control most facets of business in the country.

Platinum and diamond mines have been seized from their owners and given to the Chinese. Farms and even buildings have been mortgaged for weapons.

Fake goods

The Chinese have courted controversy after taking over most retail outlets vacated by their Western owners who fled persecution by Mugabe. ‘Zhing zhong’ is a derogatory term referring to the flood of second-rate and fake Chinese goods flooding the Zimbabwean market. Black empowerment advocates are furious that Mugabe could chase out the British only to hand the country on a silver platter to the Chinese.

This is seen as the new face of colonialism, this time sugar-coated with patriotic language and coming from the east.

Workers complain that the Chinese employers either do not pay them or pay them a pittance with no prospects of ever holding management positions that are reserved for fellow Chinese.

All over Africa, the story is the same: The Chinese are getting much more than they are giving, with the active help of the continent’s corrupt leaders.(ZimEye, Zimbabwe)

10 Comments on "Zimbabwe is gateway for China’s colonization of Africa"

Phillip Benjamin on Sun, 25th Oct 2009 12:43 am

I am very glad that our brothers in the Third World are getting this problem right. In Southeast Asia, which is the region just south of China, the Chinese are known for what they truly are. Corrupt businessmen and criminals who bribe the leadership of the country and eventually take over the whole country’s economy. Then their politeness quickly turns into rude arrogance once the leaders of the countries have turned into their lapdogs and the locals turn into their wage slaves. Just look at Tibet and Xinjiang where China has taken over huge tracts of land, and beat the local inhabitants whenever they talk or ask for fairness and justice.

Joseph Tan on Mon, 26th Oct 2009 4:10 am

I don’t meant to be rude. Philip Benjamin MAY not even stayed in Southeast Asia anytime in his life to justify his comment. Look at what Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand etc. now. Indonesia now recognised the positive aspects conveniently disregarded and demonised during Suharto times. Similarly is the current PM, Najib Razak and his predecessor, Abdullah Badawi afterthe post- Mahathir’s rule. Look at the dynamism of Singapore even in the midst of the economic crisis. Thailand is on the verge to rebound as the next Tiger. Similarly in Vietnam, Philippines and even of all place, Burma. Where did Africa stand, pre-Chinese investment? If not because of aggressive Chinese investment, most of the African countries suffered from creditability and default on repayment, resulting not only the Western banks but also the International Monetary Fund and World Bank refused to offer any new loans otherwise if comes, would be with stringent and almost impossible conditions. So therefore count your blessings.

God bless Africa and China

Sylevester on Mon, 26th Oct 2009 6:38 am

@ Joseph sorry. Whatever you are saying l don’t think its true. I totally agree with Phillip. I may not have been to Asia but l have been to Zimbabwe or am a Zimbabwean. Chinese are cruel and brutal. They cushion our very rude President with money for his own pocket while we go hungry. They go about announcing to the whole world that they are helping Zimbabwe economically when in actual fact they are crippling us. They have taken our country to be a dumping site. Selling cheap clothes that wont last even a week. Do you know how zimbabweans describe your clothes. We say they are ‘Zhing Zhongs’ and the name has been coined to mean something cheap and doesnt last. Yours shoes are called ‘Best before twenty two killometres and your doctors are called best before december’. Am sorry that l dont like Chinese and I always think that they are partly responsible for the problems we have in Zimbabwe. The was a time when we were literally forced to learn chinese language through introducing it on television but still people wont like it. Our people are forced to watch Chinese movies on local Television but do you what we have done. We bought DSTVs so that we may watch different things. We feel more comfortable watching anything other than Chinese stuff.Those who could not afford DStvs have resorted to not wacthing any television at all. In our rural areas Chinese drilled boreholes which only functioned for two months l think. SO AWAY WITH CHINA…ZIMBABWE WILL NEVER BE A COLONY AGAIN!

Fadzai on Tue, 27th Oct 2009 9:55 am

I also agree with Phillip. China is not a prudent investor. They have huge reserves of US$ which they need to get rid of, due to the weakening of the dollar. What better way to do this than to offload this curency in return for resources? China is indeed after mineral resources of which Africa is very rich in. The Chinese are simply re-colonizing africa. I say we do away with China’s money.

L. Nyati on Wed, 28th Oct 2009 4:08 pm

The truth and realities in both local and international business activities will set us all free and thanks so much Joe Tan for the insight. All major resources from uranium, oil, gas to diamonds are available but we lack the will to do proper business regulations rules and norms in Africa. All politicians in Africa will be good candidates for prisons when they leave state houses. No one is concerned about the poor but power at all costs. China may have bad business practices but its also good and the truth is that the developed world does business with China and by the end of 2011 it will be the world’s 2nd largest economy. China has two systems and no one is forced to buy cheap and substandard products (Zhing-Zhongs), its us from Africa who want cheap and unregulated as we can’t afford the very and more expensive ones. There is no sane banker who will invest in risky and unsound areas and Africa we are used to free aid and even low interest loans we dishonour them buy paying in time as we are used to dubious business practices. We expect the Chinese to invest in African farms but we chase western and already white Africans who can source markets to either east or west as the export markets are very highly regulated. We mutilate property rights and are only able to morgauge our natural resources as evidenced by the Chinese Exim loans of US$950 million and 5billion which is still on the table as they might just be pies in the sky. Sanctions were imposed because of human rights violence and corruptions but trade with the west doubled, so who is fooling who Zanu-PF. We invaded farms with properties for exports which were on them when the whole national GDP was dependent on +60% on farms banking on more economic eggs while violently attacking the golden geese-my foot.

Dzombi on Fri, 30th Oct 2009 4:07 pm

Did I understand you Mr Nyati or Nyathi????? I thought arguments about China were not about how they’ve developed but much to their foreign policy or say their policy towards Africa. You sound like you have a good point to make but on a wrong platform.

L. Nyati on Sat, 31st Oct 2009 9:51 pm

Thanks Dzombi about your comments?? The Chinese culture and soft loans and foreign policy is a reality. Look at political and social problems in their own country,Tibet,Uighar, Tianamen square massacres plus horrible industrial accidents in coal mines and lack of democracy as we understand it in the western and African ways then their co-opperations with despotic regimes like Sudan, Guenee, Zimbabwe similar to their own ruling party and policy till dead!! We are just like sheep to the economic slaughter houses as at the end of the day its the economic fittest of the fittest that survive, ie when elephants make love or war its still the grass that suffers. I wish if it could you and me to have applied and got the state Zim$1 billion state loan for IBDC when it had value almost 20yrs ago and getting accounting and auditing of who it was disbursed and who got what and when, we will both faint and faint very, very fast. With capitalism the poor will suffer unto our graves!!! We will have to work times three to reverse their way of doing business in Africa and for a very long time to come in future.

Joe Chaiye on Mon, 2nd Nov 2009 2:14 pm

Whoever says China is a good partner is a staunch and corrupt ZANU PF supporter. I think where there is proper governance China is an equal partner, but where there is corruption, China is also a corrupt partner. China strives where there is poverty and hunger. When Zimbabweans were crying for food, China was busy bringing weapons to strengthen the regine that was causing hunger in the country. Iwe are wise enough, lets look at who is actually feeding the poor and hungry Africans right now, you will find out that its the Americans and the Europeans but China is busy strengthening the corrupt leaders of those countries that are suffering.

Anonymous on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 8:44 am

CHINKY ARMOUR

Cheap goods used to come from Hong Kong
But new crud in from China
Known in Zimbabwe as zhing-zhong
Gives businessmen angina

Though it may look picture-perfect
Things oft prove of little use
Having defect after defect
They soon end up as refuse

All that glitters is not worthy
To be classified as gold
It wastes Zim’s foreign currency
And creates a stranglehold

On production and investment
And declining retail sales
Whilst fomenting deep resentment
And compounding her travails

Causing massive unemployment
And curtailing industry
With its bellicose bombardment
It produces peasantry

By making bigwigs filthy rich
Its sly kickbacks perks and bribes
Are driving Zim into a ditch
Like Mugabe’s diatribes

Decrying West and Looking East
May seem like the way to go
But fencing with this massive beast
Will be foiled by fearsome woe

Bright armour she exports is flawed
By the chinks behind the scenes
Cheap exports ought to be outlawed
And Zim saved by every means

Duane W. Udd on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 8:53 am

THE GREAT FIREWALL OF CHINA

Censoring communications
Is this dragon’s sordid scheme
Trojan horse in many nations
Perpetrating its regime

Lesser gods with cyber kingdoms
Bow and scrape to grab dot-coms
Google-eyed from Sino-nostrums
They sit down on Hu’s time-bombs

Will he be the webs big spider
Sucking substance in his snare
Information’s prime blockader
Prince of power o’er the air

Backing tyrants like Mugabe
Jamming signals bearing news
Fearing that to free Zimbabwe
Might mean that the Chinese lose

Strangleholds they have on mining
Or sub-standard trinket sales
Textile threads are intertwining
Tightening on all retails

Communist capitalism
Denigrates democracy
China’s colonialism
Is far worse than bankruptcy

Human rights get scant attention
Labour Laws are set aside
Povo can forget a pension
But remember friends who died

Free speech is a sign of freedom
China needs to toe the line
Down with quasi Sino-czardom
Let the whole world stay online

Zimbabwe is gateway for China’s colonization of Africa

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