Mugabe's Generous Mates in Beijing

Far East Economic Review ^ | 6/27/02

[Ranger]

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe may be vilified by Western leaders, but the Chinese seem to be warming to the African dictator. Political observers in Harare claim that during a recent visit to the southern African country in early June a senior Chinese official handed Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party a gift of $1 million. The official, Wei Jianxing, was on a five-nation tour of Africa in his capacity as a member of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee. The observers question how the government will square the donation with legislation passed in 2001 that bans foreign funding for political parties in the country. Ironically, the law was largely designed to prevent overseas support for Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change. Although Beijing's motives are uncertain, Chinese officials have reportedly recently praised the Mugabe government's moves towards racial harmony. Western countries, however, deplore Mugabe's harsh treatment of white farmers who have traditionally controlled the country's key agriculture sector, which now lies in ruins as a result.

[Pearls Before Swine]

A depopulated country is easy to colonize. The Chinese could even look like saviors doing it in 10 or 15 years.