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Features Correspondent
African countries are still saddled by poverty, despite most of them having been independent from colonial rule for nearly half a century.
That these countries, forming the bulk of the so-called developing world, are still grappling with poverty and want, including suffering droughts and hunger, is not surprising because of the deep structural issues that countries are grappling with.
The African state, post-independence, lacked capacity to have structures, policies and expertise to lift the majority out of poverty on the back of colonial systems that were extractive in nature and placed Africans in a position to serve the interests of the master.
This has been hard to undo.
However, China could provide a blueprint of lifting countries in Africa – and pretty much the rest of the world – out of poverty not just through its successful model, but also practical lessons.
The gaining of independence by China, which also experienced colonialism and foreign subjugation, was a historical milestone that gave the Asian nation the capacity to help brothers and sisters across the world.
In previous times, China helped Africans gain political independence. Five decades later, China can help African people gain economic independence through the eradication of poverty.
In 2020, China declared that it had lifted 100 million people out of extreme poverty, a goal in line with the country’s goal of achieving a moderately prosperous society, which serves the people.
This was a remarkable 10 years ahead of schedule envisaged in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
China has a lot of parallels with Africa, and this is why its models are important for the continent, not least because China is willing and able to assist developing nations out of poverty and other challenges brought about by atrocities of history that put us at a disadvantage.
A key milestone was achieved in 2020, when China announced that it had taken 100 million people in rural areas who were living below the current poverty threshold from poverty – and this comprised of 128 000 impoverished villages and 832 designated poor counties.
How China achieved this is inspirational, and serves to affirm that China has made good use of its self-determination and independence to chart a progressive way, that could be now of global reckoning, especially in Africa.
Experts agree that China owes its successes to a number of deliberate actions, which countries like Zimbabwe should take a leaf from.
First, China, through the leadership of the Communist Party of China (the Party), is people oriented.
It has been noted by authoritative commentators that the party’s founding mission is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and national rejuvenation, and united and led the people in fighting poverty with firm convictions and a strong will.
It is not surprising that the governing party has demonstrated that it is there to serve the people of China, not the other way round.
Unsurprisingly, during the poverty-alleviation programmes implemented in China, volunteers and officers from the Party committed themselves to working in remote villages to implement programmes.
It is reported that more than 1 800 Party members and officials died in these heroic sacrifices.
It is also widely accepted that the reason why China could succeed in the fight against poverty is because that China’s poverty alleviation covered all Chinese people, as national policies did not leave anyone behind.
It is the bane of many governments, and in particular Africa, that some regions and peoples are left behind due to narrow tribal, ethnic or regional reasons.
China’s programme was inclusive.
According to the Chinese Mission to the African Union, the practice of poverty reduction in China shows that poverty is not destined, nor invincible.
“The valuable experience that China has explored in its poverty reduction practice is the common wealth of China and Africa,” the mission wrote in an article.
China has committed to actively share its poverty alleviation experience and continue to work with Africa “as good brothers who support each other, good partners for common development, and good comrades-in-arms who share weal and woe”.
“We will work together to eradicate extreme poverty, and promote the construction of China-Africa community with a shared future,” the mission said.
As long as China continue to exist as an independent and self-determining nation, it gives the world an opportunity to take vital lessons.
Online Reporter