China showing its true colours

The second scramble for Africa is in full swing and identical to the first, the aim is easy access to the continent’s natural resources. In contrast to the first scramble when European powers, like a gang of robbers, sat down to divide Africa’s loot among themselves without consideration for the indigenous people, the current scramble is more subtle and nuanced but at times no less deadly.

The present scramble also does not exclude the use of military force so popular in the past when conditions were suitable. The recent intervention in Libya springs to mind.

New competitors

Another distinctive feature of the second scramble is that the traditional European exploiters have been joined by the United States, China and some oil-rich Middle Eastern countries.

While the US and China show a keen interest in Africa’s natural resources, governments from the  Middle East are more interested in taking possession of large swathes of fertile agricultural land in an attempt to pre-empt expected food shortages in the near future.

And, to complete the picture, there are the dubious involvement and exploitation activities of a considerable number of multinational companies, mining houses and financial institutions.

China’s arms delivery

Media coverage of China’s ever-growing presence and involvement in Africa, paints a picture of something much different to that of the West; not so overpowering, with Beijing appearing to be the altruistic and committed ally and friend of Africa.

China obviously tries to nurture and promote this image but it is not always possible to hide its true colours and ultimate goals.

Chinese hypocrisy was once again vividly exposed by a recent report in Southern Africa Report about a huge arms shipment that recently arrived in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwean Defence Force has taken delivery of 20 000 AK-47s, uniforms, 12 -15 trucks and about 21,000 pairs of handcuffs.

The arms were delivered from China via a secret circuitous route, avoiding countries such as Mozambique and South Africa where the trade unions (not governments) to their credit, have in the recent past prevented Chinese arms shipments from reaching Zimbabwe.

China has once again reaffirmed its commitment to the Mugabe regime, describing president Mugabe on a recent visit to Beijing as “an old friend.” China has been supplying Zimbabwe with weapons for some time, especially since Western governments, imposed an arms embargo in 2002 over Zanu-PF’s gross human rights abuses.

The embargo was imposed despite being vetoed by China and Russia in the UN Security Council,

Tense situation

In Zimbabwe a tense situation is balanced on a knife-edge and the signs of political violence are ominous.

In tandem with reports of violent acts of intimidation by Zanu-PF gangs against the opposition it is also reported that Zanu-PF is busy fine tuning its old and trusted strategy of yet again intimidating the opposition into submission during the all-important elections expected next year.

It is therefore disconcerting that China decided under current circumstances to provide arms, well knowing that they will most probably be used by an unpopular regime against its own people to force an “acceptable” election result.

This latest arms shipment was reportedly arranged by defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa who is not only a leader in the Zanu-PF hard-line faction thought to include top generals and security chiefs, but also a serious contender to succeed President Mugabe.

His chances improved after the controversial and unsolved death of Solomon Mujuru, burnt to death in his farmhouse and a more moderate voice in the Zanu-PF hierarchy.

China obviously assessed the pros and cons of supplying arms to the Mugabe regime and as far as Beijing is concerned the advantage it presents to further its interests is clearly worth the risk and criticism. The consequences it might have for Zimbabwe’s unlucky population clearly do not bother the leadership in Beijing.

Chinese self-righteousness

To put Chinese self-righteousness into perspective there is the example of China deciding to cancel a deal in 2007 to supply a consignment of weapons to Harare. The 2008 Beijing Olympics were looming and China decided to abandon the deal and to clear any lingering doubts went so far as to issue a statement re-affirming a commitment to only supply ‘humanitarian assistance’ to Harare.

Military cooperation between Mugabe’s regime and China is at an all-time high given the country’s international isolation.

Since 2004 China has sold to Zimbabwe 139 military vehicles and 24 combat aircraft. During Zimbabwe’s involvement in the war in the DRC, China sold Mugabe at least US$66 million worth of small arms, according to Southern Africa Report

The current controversy has again highlighted the US$97 million Chinese loan to help build a Defence College outside Harare, constructed by a Chinese company and described as nothing but a ‘giant spy centre’ which will help prop up Mugabe’s regime.

It is said that this particular deal bonded Zimbabwe to a 20 year arrangement with Marange diamonds being used to pay off the loan.

In exchange for arms China receives lucrative platinum, lithium, aluminium, zinc and diamond concessions and farms to grow food for the people back home. To affirm their cosy relationship the Mugabe regime has excluded Chinese mining firms from adhering to the controversial requirements of its indigenisation policy whereby foreign mining companies in Zimbabwe are required to surrender 51% of their local equity to local Zimbabweans.

The controversial manner in which the Mugabe regime pounced on one of the world’s biggest diamond fields at Marange and forcefully removed the locals to make room for Zimbabwe’s elite and their Chinese allies to plunder indiscriminately, is another woeful example of China’s hypocrisy.

China has shown scant concern for the gross violation of human rights and killings at Marange. Some time ago the print media carried reports of Chinese soldiers deployed at Marange to direct mining activities and buildi an airfield used to fly diamonds to China and return with arms as payment.

Zimbabwe, no doubt, is one of the brightest jewels in China’s African crown.

The timing of the delivery and the array of arms in the latest consignment leaves little doubt that it was ordered by Harare and approved by Beijing with the all-important forthcoming Zimbabwean elections in mind.

After all, Beijing’s long-term vision for Zimbabwe demands that Zanu-PF stays in power.

Broader context

In a broader context Beijing’s readiness to deliver arms to the Mugabe regime might be indicative of a new danger – the start of a possible arms race between the United States and China.

The militarisation of America’s foreign policy in Africa, as manifested in the activities of US Africa Command (Africom), must i counter China’s advances in Africa. The Obama Administration’s undisguised attempts to ring-fence China by strengthening military ties with Australia and improving relations with countries located strategically in the Asia region will understandably elicit reaction from the Chinese.

Arming the highly critical and anti- Western Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe might well form part of Beijing’s response.