Here's How China Matters in Zimbabwe's Elections

The National Interest ^ | July 30, 2018 | Richard Aidoo

[piasa]

China offers development assistance but not everyone is happy about it.

The people of Zimbabwe head to the polls today on July 30, 2018, to cast their votes in the first election after the abrupt end to the almost forty-year rule of Robert Mugabe, the country's only ruler since independence in 1980. The two major candidates to watch are Mugabe's former vice president and now leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) Emerson Mnangagwa, the replacement for the late opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and the candidate for the Movement for Democratic Change—Tsvangirai (MDC-T), Nelson Chamisa.

The drama that characterized the removal of Mugabe from office this past November has continued into the election campaign with threats, counter-threats and a rec ent explosion during a ZANU-PF campaign rally. The ubiquity of China in this entire political drama is an understatement. Over the Mugabe years, he persistently reminded the West of its exploitative colonial past on the continent while working in soundbites to extol China’s efforts in Africa. As he faced Western sanctions, Mugabe’s “Look East” policy fully embraced China. Those sanctions had been aimed at dissuading democratic decay, encouraging economic reforms and curbing the excesses of his regime in a state once called the breadbasket of Africa.

Ironically, the military deposition of Mugabe had alleged Chinese influence, as General Chiwenga’s visit to China , days before he led the internal uprising against Mugabe, later put Beijing on the defensive. Therefore it is not surprising that Mnangagwa and the ZANU-PF have been visibly and staunchly pro-China, and Mnangagwa visited China after his swearing-in as interim president. However, Chamisa has threatened to expel Chinese investors out of Zimbabwe ... Interestingly, the use of anti-Chinese rhetoric to gin up popular support for the MDC-T platform was employed successfully in neighboring Zambia. ...

[SauronOfMordor]

Maybe China can make something out of that area.

[Sirius Lee]

I think you’re correct. The only thing that seems to improve the lives of Africans is colonial rule.

[rawcatslyentist]

So, they gained independence to be ruled by a dictator?

No wonder they're starving.

[Wuli]

The Magna Carta was signed in 1215.

From 1215 to 1776 the British colonialists in North America had 561 years of education-by-experience in what is needed for self government by elected representatives. It is quite possible, from a cultural perspective, that experince and a history of experience in democratic forms is every bit as much important as merely “learning” about it and trying to emulate it.

The former European colonies in Africa have not even had one century since their independence. Maybe they will need their own experiences for another 400+ years to “get it right”. Then again, maybe they will simply fail at it.

[piasa]

You’re probably right... a people would need that long experience and struggle just to appreciate their liberty enough to zealously guard it from being snatched away. And a refresher from time to time, as we can see here, where there’s always an element of society willing to throw it all away.

[piasa]

My sister works with nurses from Kenya and Nigeria. She likes them very much because they are well-educated and diligent workers- and especially because she’s seen them “school” fellow American nurses against some ditzy Democrat ideas. It used to be my sister was alone in the argument and dismissed as an “old blonde” but she’s enjoying the heck out of having these new allies join the discussion.