adminChido Chikuni
The recent visit to Africa by Chinese President, Xi Jinping must be commended as it brings positive light to most African countries that had been battling over years, trying to recover their ailing economies.
The coming of President Xi’s to Africa was indeed spot on. It is pleasing that the Chinese President pledged to assist Africa through a $60 billion aid. It is also heartening that China’s assistance to African countries comes purely without any conditions. China is unlike other associations such as European Union-Africa, Turkey-Africa or Tokyo-Africa cooperation among others which demands African countries to grant them either mineral resources or oil in return after they would have assisted African nations with any form of aid.
It really boggles the mind when most nations from the Western community interfere in African politics. The westerners are always there to cause havoc and instability in developing countries, instead of supporting them to grow their economies. President Xi’s speech at the China-African summit was so inspiring. The Chinese President promised African leaders that his country would step up investment in factories which will manufacture goods for export in Africa. This is a very constructive opportunity which will permit African countries to trade with that Asian country without restraint.
It is pleasing that President Xi mentioned that, “China strongly believes Africa belongs to the African people and African problems should be handled by the African people.” In that view, African countries should resolve their problems alone. It is imperative for Africa countries to take a leaf from China on zero tolerance to corruption. If the issue of corruption is put to rest in Africa, surely, development will take its course.
All African associates must emulate the way China is supporting the African continent.
President Robert Mugabe, who is the current African Union Chairperson, was much delighted by China’s support to Africa. After President Xi outlined how China will offer support to African nations, President Mugabe happily hailed the Chinese President saying, “Here is a man representing a country once called poor, a country which was never our coloniser. He is doing to us what we expected those who colonised us yesterday to do. We will say he is a God-sent person”.
Surely, as Africans, we must be thankful to President Xi and his Government. Buttressing President Mugabe’s views, the Britain and other African colonisers were supposed to be at the forefront, assisting developing nations.
China assured infrastructural develop in Africa. This will be done through rehabilitation of roads, ports and railways in the continent. Infrastructural rehabilitation will allow free flow of commodities from one country to the other as well as smooth flow of resources from Africa to China and the other way round.
Africa is vast with natural resources. Through the Chinese $60 billion aid, I am quite cognisant that Africa will be able to resuscitate most of its processing industries that had been lying idle due to lack of financial support. At the China-Africa summit, South African President Jacob Zuma, mentioned that African countries needed Chinese help to process their abundant natural resources.
Most opposition political parties had been criticising the ‘Look East policy’ saying it is inconsequential. When implemented, the mega deals that were signed between Zimbabwe and China together with the pledged aid made on all African countries will witness economy recovery in 2016. At times patience pays.
I believe there is no harm in waiting for the execution of all the pledges that were made by China to Africa, than going around making unnecessary noise in the media.
In fact, the relationship that exists between Africa and China should be a long term relationship.
The bond between China and Africa did not begin with the recent visit by President Xi, it started long back thus between 1948-1978 when most African countries gained their independence. This relationship explains well why most Chinese dwell in African countries.
Online Reporter