Chinese envoy visit: A reassurance on mega deals

The recent visit to Zimbabwe by a special Chinese envoy has reignited hope that the Asian economic giant is still committed to implementing the mega-deals signed between the two all-weather friends in 2014 and 2015.

The visit comes in the wake of wide speculations that the deals hang in the balance after China was reportedly displeased with government's alleged economic policy inconsistencies. The visit has put paid and put cold water on such destructive speculations that are bent on throwing spanners on the path to economic revival.

The envoy headed by the Chinese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Zhang Ming updated President Mugabe on the progress in the implementation of the $4 billion mega-deals that were signed in 2014 and 2015 when the two Presidents paid each other State visits. President Mugabe visited China in 2014 and signed nine milestone deals that will help in the revitalization of the economy, a national vision spelt in the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).

Some of the deals focus on the critical economic enablers such as energy, road, national railway networks, telecommunications, agriculture and tourism. When President Xi Jinping paid a reciprocal State visit in 2015, 12 more landmark deals were inked. These include the construction of the new parliament building in Mt Hampden, a pharmaceutical warehouse, expansion of a national fiber optic broadband project and many others.

Already Hwange Thermal Power Station which China is set to bankroll is already taking off with the Chinese contractor, Sinohydro already on the ground. So contrary to what is being said and written about Chinese mega-deals, there is actually something happening that detractors are not privy to. They might be privy but the agenda they are pushing for dictates that they denigrate and discredit such projects that give a political credit to Zanu-PF.

 The unfortunate reality is that the biting consequences of a bad economy indiscriminately affect all and sundry. Look at the sanctions that Mr Morgan Tsvangirai called for. They are biting everybody including their chief architect, Mr Tsvangirai himself. The MDC-T leader is reportedly failing to fuel his donated vehicle. Rumor has it that the party's benefactors are funding all his family needs. He could have been homeless had it not been the benevolence of government which let him continue to occupy a state house which he was allocated when he was still the prime minister.

These are all effects of sanctions and a self-induced 'collapsing' economy. It is apparent that some people do not learn from history. While they celebrate the declining economy and try by all means to scare away investors, lest they forget that the effects of those actions will haunt them as well.

China is willing to deliver on all its promises and that commitment must get support from every sane Zimbabwean across the political divide. Perhaps Zimbabwe is to be blame for the delays in the implementation of these deals. We have to play our part of the bargain before the Chinese come on the ground. For instance, the Chinese raised concern in March this year that Zimbabwe government had not yet cleared the ground for a new parliament building.

 The Chinese cannot just come and construct a parliament building in a bush. They had also requested for the construction of a link road to the site. It's unfortunate that the special envoy is coming again when this road had not yet been constructed. We seem to be not in a hurry. Our authorities must not forget that there are many other countries that are drooling for the Chinese investment.

China's director of African Affairs Department, Mr Lin Songtian confirmed to a Herald reporter in March this year that his government was ready to implement the mega-deals and implored Zimbabwean authorities to play their party.

"For China's side no problem, we are ready but of course from your side, my side, each of us will need to follow the procedure to complete the deals. We are taking very serious whatever the commitment made by my President to His Excellency the President. We will deliver each of them, no problem. But what can we do there, it's step-by-step and when the condition there is ready, the Zimbabwe side gets ready, we are ready," said Mr Lin.

Indeed we need to be ready as soon as yesterday. One area where we need to be ready is to create a corrupt free environment. As we know, China loathes corruption to the bone. It is known for its legacy in fighting the scourge of corruption. In view of that, China needs to be equally yoked. We should be seen to be fighting corruption if the Chinese confidence is to be totally won. There have been too many reports of corruption in the media and definitely China has been profiling all these corrupt cases by our ministers and senior government officials. Let us not give investors a room to think that by investing in Zimbabwe, they will be pouring their money into a bottomless pit.

The macro-environment prevailing in this country needs an acute placement of priorities. Of all the deals that China is to bankroll, it will be a misplaced priority to begin with the construction of a parliament building. We have been using the current parliament for over a century and we can still do for many years to come. If the current building no longer has enough space for the bloated parliament, we can still do with a mean parliament. There is nothing that the 350 MPs can do that a good size of 100 MPs cannot do, especially in urban areas where their work overlaps with that of the councilors.

The construction of a parliament building will not contribute much to the revival of our economy. Unfortunately it seems the parliament project is at the heart of the Chinese. We cannot allow donors to buy us cakes when we don't even have mealie meal in the house. First things first, let's put our priorities right.

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John Sigauke <johnsigau@gmail.com