African countries to gain nothing from China-Africa Forum

By Tererai Karimakwenda
31 October 2006

This week the city of Beijing will host top-level officials, including heads of state from over 40 African countries, at a China-Africa Co-operation Forum. The event has made headlines around the world because among the invited guests are dictators and controversial leaders who have been criticised for serious human rights abuses against their own people. The host country China has been under intense pressure for not only protecting these figures on the global stage, but also for its unscrupulous business practices on the African continent.

Professor Elphus Mukonoweshuro, Secretary for International Affairs in the Tsvangirai MDC, believes China has nothing to offer that can add value to Africa’s economy. He said Beijing is simply trying to come out of the state of antiquity it has been locked in for so long and join the global village by dumping its cheap products in Africa. He went further to say China is using Africa as a launching pad to procure Western products and its relationship with the continent is lop-sided.

Professor Mukonoweshuro described the China-Africa Forum as “nothing but a political solidarity meeting” at which the guests will ignore issues of human rights, democracy and good governance. He said: “If you look at history you will note that African leaders are into the business of attending these hotel conferences which are not backed up by any positive action afterwards.” The professor believes Mugabe and other isolated African leaders think they can demonstrate they are not pariah states when they are treated like heads of state by countries like China.

Bringing it home to Zimbabwe, Professor Mukonoweshuro said many businesses have closed and others are struggling to survive as a result of our contact with China. Asked whether it would be difficult to get back much of what the Mugabe regime has sold to the Chinese, the professor said we are fortunate that these deals made with China are subject to review by a new democratic government because they were not open to public scrutiny.