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MDC-T cave in on controversial defence college
Lance Guma, SW Radio Africa
June 02, 2011

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news020611/mdctcave020611.htm

Parliament on Tuesday ratified a US$98 million loan from China to build a controversial Defence College on the outskirts of Harare. The upper and lower houses of parliament were hastily convened to rubber-stamp the agreement signed between the government and the Export-Import Bank of China.

The project has been described by many observers as nothing more than a giant spy centre. Despite the MDC-T objecting to the deal and having a majority of MP's in parliament to block it, the party said its hands were tied as they were no longer an opposition but also part of the inclusive government. Party Chief Whip Innocent Gonese spoke to SW Radio Africa on Thursday and explained their position.

"We have reservations about the whole deal. We are not happy with it. As far as we are concerned, it's a clear indication of misplaced priorities. Be that as it may we are cognizant, we are in an inclusive government and this was an agreement between the government of Zimbabwe and the Export-Import Bank of China."

Despite black empowerment rhetoric from Mugabe's regime, Chinese companies like Anjin Investments, also involved in controversial diamond mining in Chiadzwa, have been contracted to construct the college. The college located at the Chitamba Farm in the Mazowe Valley is also described as an intelligence academy, where members of the notorious Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) will be trained.

When it was first discussed it was reported it would be called the Robert Mugabe National School of Intelligence and would be run by the Chinese and its foreign intelligence service, in conjunction with the CIO and the local military intelligence. The facility will also have "groups of tracking dishes and its own satellite system, with some groups used to intercept telephone calls, faxes, and computer communications in general." Other reports said the "facility will also monitor diplomatic, domestic, commercial and military communications."

Asked if the MDC-T was not shooting itself in the foot by not blocking the deal, Gonese said; "We didn't support it; we simply did not vote against it, there is a difference. We can't oppose something from government when we are part of government."

Meanwhile several legislators from the party expressed concern that even though there is a law prescribing 51 percent indigenous ownership in business, the Chinese were being treated like Zimbabweans and were not subjected to the same law.

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