Opinion / Columnist
40 die in DRC riots against Chinese unfair deals - Zim knows these only too well!
25 Jan 2015 at 15:20hrs | Views
40 people killed in the DRC in political demonstration that escalated into rioting against the Chinese.
"The protests primarily opposed a change to electoral law that would allow Kabila to remain in office beyond 2016 - sidestepping a constitutional prohibition of running for office again - the rioters' targets appeared to have been influenced by the government's decision to boost economic ties with China," reported New Zimbabwe.
"Gigantic contracts between Kinshasa and Beijing signed in 2007 and 2008 gave Chinese companies the right to operate many of mineral-rich DRC mines in exchange for developing the country's road system and other infrastructure - deals Western nations denounced as unfair."
So it is not just Zimbabweans who are being short changed by China, the Congolese also believe the deals signed by their government with the Chinese are unfair. Zimbabweans expressed their strong objections particularly after the Mugabe signed mega deals with the Chinese last August the details of which have remained secret but whose primary objective was to get Mugabe off the hook to implementing democratic reforms and hold free, fair and credible elections.
The Chinese mega deal was followed by another deal with the Russians in which the later was granted the concession to mine Zimbabwe's platinum and diamonds. Again no details of the deals have been released but the can be no doubt that in his desperation Mugabe made the Russians a deal they could not refuse!
The Russian economy has since taken a serious knock, Russia has since asked for US$ 4 billion in currency support from the Chinese. The platinum mining deal will probably not start for a while but the Russians are already in on the plunder of Marange and Chiadzwa diamonds!
The Chinese and Russian deals Mugabe signed worth $ 4 billion and $ 3 billion respectively were both for specific projects finance as contrast to budgetary support he was seeking. Still the $ 7 billion is a far cry from the $27 billion he was seeking for his ZimAsset economic recovery plan. However Mugabe hoped the deals would open the flood gates for more ZimAsset which has not happened and there is very little hope of it ever happening.
We in Africa are pleased to see that China has enjoyed an economic growth rate of 7.5% or more for the last 25 years each year taking millions of its people out of poverty; what we deeply resent is for any of this sustained growth to be at Africa's expense. Our expense!
Africa's tyrants have willingly signed away their nations' future for pittance just as long as they remain in power for a bit longer. China has been quick to exploit this weakness and propped up the tyrants and even helped some of them rig elections in return for China being granted unfettered access to Africa's mineral wealth and other resources. This is African tyrant – China cosy relationship the people in the DRC are protesting against and 40 lost their very lives for.
"A Chinese diplomat, who requested anonymity, told AFP the apparent targeting of Chinese businesses by rioters were isolated instances as part of wider unrest, and of no long-term significance," continued the report.
China should know that it cannot continue to prop tyrants like Mugabe whilst it plunders our resources, not in this day and age. Mugabe's ZimAsset economic recovery plan is dead in the water in spite China's financial boost; all the boost did was post pone the economic collapse by a few months. Mugabe is now back to where he was before he signed the deals with China in August 2014, he is standing on the edge economic collapse and the abyss. And like it or not he will be forced to accept that he has failed and step down.
Trust me, regime change in Zimbabwe will certainly result in very significant long term changes in China - Zimbabwe relations; China's unfettered access and plunder of Zimbabwe's resources will end!
It is our fervent hope that China will take the rioting in Zaire as a clear warning that the ordinary Africans may be politically powerless but we are not stupid; we can see that we are being short changed.
"The protests primarily opposed a change to electoral law that would allow Kabila to remain in office beyond 2016 - sidestepping a constitutional prohibition of running for office again - the rioters' targets appeared to have been influenced by the government's decision to boost economic ties with China," reported New Zimbabwe.
"Gigantic contracts between Kinshasa and Beijing signed in 2007 and 2008 gave Chinese companies the right to operate many of mineral-rich DRC mines in exchange for developing the country's road system and other infrastructure - deals Western nations denounced as unfair."
So it is not just Zimbabweans who are being short changed by China, the Congolese also believe the deals signed by their government with the Chinese are unfair. Zimbabweans expressed their strong objections particularly after the Mugabe signed mega deals with the Chinese last August the details of which have remained secret but whose primary objective was to get Mugabe off the hook to implementing democratic reforms and hold free, fair and credible elections.
The Chinese mega deal was followed by another deal with the Russians in which the later was granted the concession to mine Zimbabwe's platinum and diamonds. Again no details of the deals have been released but the can be no doubt that in his desperation Mugabe made the Russians a deal they could not refuse!
The Russian economy has since taken a serious knock, Russia has since asked for US$ 4 billion in currency support from the Chinese. The platinum mining deal will probably not start for a while but the Russians are already in on the plunder of Marange and Chiadzwa diamonds!
The Chinese and Russian deals Mugabe signed worth $ 4 billion and $ 3 billion respectively were both for specific projects finance as contrast to budgetary support he was seeking. Still the $ 7 billion is a far cry from the $27 billion he was seeking for his ZimAsset economic recovery plan. However Mugabe hoped the deals would open the flood gates for more ZimAsset which has not happened and there is very little hope of it ever happening.
Africa's tyrants have willingly signed away their nations' future for pittance just as long as they remain in power for a bit longer. China has been quick to exploit this weakness and propped up the tyrants and even helped some of them rig elections in return for China being granted unfettered access to Africa's mineral wealth and other resources. This is African tyrant – China cosy relationship the people in the DRC are protesting against and 40 lost their very lives for.
"A Chinese diplomat, who requested anonymity, told AFP the apparent targeting of Chinese businesses by rioters were isolated instances as part of wider unrest, and of no long-term significance," continued the report.
China should know that it cannot continue to prop tyrants like Mugabe whilst it plunders our resources, not in this day and age. Mugabe's ZimAsset economic recovery plan is dead in the water in spite China's financial boost; all the boost did was post pone the economic collapse by a few months. Mugabe is now back to where he was before he signed the deals with China in August 2014, he is standing on the edge economic collapse and the abyss. And like it or not he will be forced to accept that he has failed and step down.
Trust me, regime change in Zimbabwe will certainly result in very significant long term changes in China - Zimbabwe relations; China's unfettered access and plunder of Zimbabwe's resources will end!
It is our fervent hope that China will take the rioting in Zaire as a clear warning that the ordinary Africans may be politically powerless but we are not stupid; we can see that we are being short changed.
Source - Wilbert Mukori
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