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Speech by Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa at the ongoing Forum on Global Human Rights Governance in China, which is running under the theme, “Equality, Co-operation and Development: The 30th Anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and Global Human Rights Governance”.
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I recognise Mr Li Shulei, member of the Politburo:
Mr Ma Zhaoxu, executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Luo Zhaohui, director of China International Development Cooperation Agency.
All distinguished delegates;
I pay special gratitude to our hosts who are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Xinhua News Agency.
Ever since I served as ambassador to Beijing in 2002-7 Waijiaobu (Chinese Foreign Affairs Office) has always positively handled my advice on how Harare-Beijing relations can be best improved. As a result, they keep reaching new heights in bilateral relations.
I used to be chief executive of the national broadcasting company, so I fully appreciate the fresh, positive, informative and sympathetic coverage of global affairs that is the hallmark of Xinhua News Agency.
They have killed a media pandemic called Afro-pessimism that was always peddled by CNN and BBC.
Chinese hosts, delegates, comrades and friends; I greet you all from the many nations and various regions.
I want to start by paying particular homage to His Excellency Chairman Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China.
He espouses bold and visionary leadership in fine tradition that we have come to expect from the Communist Party of China in war, in peace and in national development.
Yesterday we all listened to his wholesome goodwill message to the august forum. It was a warm and heartfelt welcome to the modernising yet historic capital Beijing.
I also extend similar gratitude to the Communist Party of China, a trailblazer and a true and honest friend to Africa in all seasons good or difficult.
Before the China-Africa Forum (FOCAC) in 2000, no major power bated an eye for Africa.
Today it has become de rigueur and fashionable for capitals of leading nations to host summits with African leaders. As they say, imitation is the best form of flattery.
Even once sanguine Washington finally stooped down to receive African Heads of States. As Bob Dylan would say: THE TIMES THEY A’CHANGING.
My pride of recognition goes to the hard-working people of China. In a mere 40 years you have vaulted China to second global economy, valiantly fought to eradicate abject poverty and contributed up to 40 percent of global annual growth.
This forum is about Human Rights. China’s performance is the brightest shining star in the comity of nations.
Zimbabwe is particularly delighted with the Vienna Declaration of Human Rights 60 years ago. We are the number three last born African nation.
We fought a bitter armed struggle for our freedom with then poor and struggling China as key military supporters.
The CPC has charted a blazing trail of cooperation with Africa properly and squarely adopting and responding to changing times and new responsibilities in global affairs.
Most important is the gratitude to the people of China for their massive contribution to human economic development as China became the second largest global economy in less than four decades.
The forum is focused on human rights and the allegiance to the pursuit of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Human Rights at the founding of the United Nations Organisation.
This vital document captures the universal aspirations of all humanity in the endeavour of common progress and shared development.
As Africans we owe our sovereignty to the precepts of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) and its globalising appeal.
We need to jealously defend its integrity against new isolationists and their tendentious revisionist schemes.
There are those in Washington, London and Brussels who are now espousing some version of their ‘New Roles Based International Order’.
This forum must send a message loud and clear.
It is an emphatic ‘NO’ to the new DIKTAT by post imperialists and hegemonists. No caricature of the hallowed VDPA should be countenanced.
VDPA is about giving societies, communities and individuals a chance to develop and self-actualise.
Today Zimbabwe presents a case study of how consistent and concerted cooperation with China continues to chart ever new vistas of prosperity for our people.
The Global Security Initiative as well as the Belt and Road Initiative spell out a vision of shared safety and development agenda among nations.
Zimbabwe and China have a long history of cooperation in defence and security affairs dating to the pre-independence struggle.
My President HE Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa is the only survivor of our first batch of military cadres to initiate the armed fight for independence against colonialism.
He trained in Nanjing in 1964.
Ten years later I left university studies to join the same military struggle.
This time there were tens of thousands of youthful recruits.
Thanks to these efforts, today Zimbabwe is a tried and tested nation state that jealously safeguards its independence and sovereignty.
Thank you China.
Human Resource:
Zimbabwe boasts the highest literacy rate of Africa.
We owe this stellar achievement to the organisation ethos of our people as they fought for freedom. You cannot simply win against a well-known modern imperial power unless you organise the people.
We tapped this experience. Our rural villagers went on to build schools for free on their own. We reserved the limited post war national budget to salaries for teachers.
Land Restitution
Zimbabwe possesses a strong and bold national State machinery inherited from the war. As of year 2000, we relied on it to recover our land from the white racist colonial settler minority. The West was offended by this act of the just restitution of our natural resources. American, British and Western retribution was immediate, prompt and ruthless and we have suffered punitive sanctions since 2022.
Only Cuba has been so penalised longer.
Delegates will be relieved and delighted, we are still standing. Actually we are now thriving. We thank China for helping us withstanding and now defy the wrath of the West. Access to Chinese capital markets has been our rescue from the clutches.
I cite instances.
Tobacco Cooperation:
In 2005 the Chinese Communist Party dispatched China Tobacco Company, the global number 1 cigarette behemoth to go and invest in growing tobacco leaves with the new black African majority farmers. This saved our land reform programme.
Today, nearly 200 000 families benefit; as opposed to a mere 4000 former white farmers. And a billion US dollars is being shared every year, all to reduce rural poverty and grow prosperity.
Carbon Steel Production:
Zimbabwe is on the verge of commissioning the first of new blast furnaces to produce carbon steel. Special accolades go to President Xi Jinping, who embraced this project in 2014.
He has promoted Tsingshan Group Holdings, a leading number 238 in the Global Fortune 500, to invest in processing Zimbabwe’s rich resources of ferrochrome, high carbon thermal coal and iron ore deposits within land locked Zimbabwe. Most of the beneficiated steel is destined for the global marketplace.
The Manhize Steel project will vault Zimbabwe to be a major carbon steel producer as number 1 in Africa; also an emerging major in global carbon steel production.
China’s infrastructure dividend of enabling electricity generation, new water systems, ports, road and rail logistics will follow. Our neighbour Mozambique will have a thriving economic hinterland to develop its harbours.
Lithium and New Energy Electric Vehicles
Lithium is the new, “white gold” as vehicle mobility shifts from fossil fuels to new energy electric vehicles. Zimbabwe boasts among the world’s top five deposits of hard rock lithium.
Delegates will be delighted to know that up to five top Chinese billionaires are now investing in both mining and beneficiation of lithium within Zimbabwe.
Gold Trade:
Finally, we are busy exploring the gold trade between our central banks.
Zimbabwe is very lucky. Our gold mines are legendary to all littoral states of the Indian Ocean since 800AD. Zimbabwe does earn hard currency through commerce of agricultural products, minerals and tourism. Harare has yet another bonus. Gold is found almost everywhere in Zimbabwe. So we have the privilege to dig money. Our haul of 35 tons of gold is set to double even treble very soon. We are using gold to support our long ‘persecuted’ national currency.
A digital dollar was recently launched.
Inflation long spawned by the predatory American dollar may soon be history. All said, Zimbabwe is poised to be the fastest growing economy in Africa in the next decade. The Harare-Beijing relationship is aspiring to ever more and exciting vistas.
It is indeed a model to the world.
Nothing succeeds like success.
We are delighted to see the capitals of the West begin to make overtures to positively engage with. Zimbabwe. Hopefully sanctions will soon be lifted. For Zimbabwe, the more the merrier.
As President Mnangagwa says: Zimbabwe wants to be a friend to all and enemy to none.
Finally, on 23 August we go to our National Elections. We pride ourselves to be the first ever former guerrilla movement to embrace elections as the avenue to independence in 1980.
We will continue to find new opportunities and overcome challenges in providing fertile material ground to our bilateral cooperation.
That way we realise full and tangible human rights for our people and contribution for all humanity. Beijing has given Zimbabwe the gift of another chance.
Thank you President Xi Jinping; thank you Communist Party of China; Thank you the People of China.
Online Reporter