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Stop celebrating Chinese neo-colonialism
Rejoice Ngwenya
October 19, 2011

In "Curse or cure? China-s investments in Africa and their effect on human rights", Patrick J Keenan propels a credible commentary that makes it difficult for any other "intellectual mortal" to add value to this time-worn Sino-Africa argument.

The Herald is one of the few Zanu PF propaganda vuvuzelas whose praise of Chinese investments in Zimbabwe has assumed testosteronic proportions! I myself - though driven more by populist moral pulse than empirical evidence - is unrepentant that British colonialism in Zimbabwe has been replaced with a new form of lawlessness - Chinese neo-imperialism.

Christians the world over have a prophetic perspective of a dragon - a satanic fire-breathing monster out to control God-s people! China "worships" the dragon. It is a symbol of power "particularly control over water, rainfall, hurricane, and floods". Even though, I have nothing against "dragonian" Chinese foreign direct investment.

It-s only my heart that bleeds when those among us, by design, consider the vices of modern-day Manchurian imperialism more acceptable than virtues of British colonial exploitation.

China is extolled as a rising economic power. They claim leadership of a global market once dominated by "Western giants". Economist Raymond Hu observes how Sino-African bilateral trade topped $115 billion last year, growing at a rate of 44% each year.

Unlike Western imperialism, he says China does not forcibly acquire resources from African nations, enslave local people, or artificially break apart populations by drawing territorial lines.

China has reasserted its global influence by using its trillion dollar reserves to acquire government bonds off Western economies afflicted by indebtedness. But I am not fooled.

Unlike the Chinese communist dictatorship, I am a capitalist with a conscience. The overheated Beijing economic engine is cooled with gross violations of human and workers- rights.

Their celebrated "price competitiveness" is not a result of market proficiency, but exploitation of millions of non-union workers. Sweatshops are bankrolled with contracts from the world-s leading computer, sportswear and consumer brands.

And so when Zanu PF cronies celebrate Sino-imperialism in Zimbabwe, I can only giggle at their blind naivety. China-s relationship with Zimbabwe is driven more by self-interest than camaraderie.

As long as you castigate the Dalai Lama and Taiwan, you become a beneficiary of Manchurian communist benevolence.

Chinese are not inventors. They simply copy and paste. Their thirst for raw materials -exactly like American interest in the oil-rich Arab world - drives them to invest in Africa-s extractive industry.

I have absolutely no qualms with us "poor" Africans having access to cheap consumer goods, but I would be happier if, like British investors, China transferred technology, created jobs and used local skills.

Our economies have been transformed into vast flea markets. In both Zambia and Zimbabwe, Chinese flood the retail market, construct roads and stadia with cheap materials and disregard local labour laws. Indigenisation Minister Saviour Kasukuwere is mum on owning 51% of Chinese companies. In other words, Chinese are not alien. Double standards, indeed.

Collective trashing of Chinese investment in Zimbabwe would not be fair. If it is true that Beijing pumps money into local mines and banks, we want to see more jobs being created and a drastic increase in the quality of life.

Doing business in a country with 80% unemployment, high levels of poverty and a dismal human rights record can hardly be termed "good relations".

We might be poor, but not stupid. Just like in Zambia, when a progressive government assumes control, the Chinese risk losing if there is proof that they were "supping with the devil".

Our warehouses are littered with derelict MA60s and Zupco FAW buses. The National Sports Stadium was condemned, while the Harare-Norton dual carriageway has been "under construction" since 2000.

Marange people have either been displaced or abused, while factory and restaurant workers are terrorised. If that is good investment, you are correct to feed me to the Manchurian dragon!

Democracy, good governance and freedom are a universal integral extension of modern-day civilisation.

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