via Can China simply fund without ulterior motives? – The Zimbabwe Independent August 21, 2015
Our old friend Julius Malema has been entertaining the media in South Africa following the overturning of his tax-evasion charges. He made a lengthy speech which almost eclipsed Zimbabwe’s rising speech-makers.
Muck Raker
We recall the last time he ventured into the world of oratory when South Africa’s Eva Bezuidenhout got the better of him.
“I want the people of South Africa to treat me the same way they treated Nelson Mandela,” he pronounced.
“What a great idea,” Eva replied. “Let’s start with 27 years in jail.”
This was all a while ago. But whatever you may think of Ju-Ju, he’s a quick study.
Colonialism
Meanwhile, we spotted an interesting heading in the Sunday Mail last weekend.
“China splashes cash on Zim,” it said. It has now emerged that the Asian giant will not limit its funding in Zimbabwe running into billions of dollars.
So if the extent of Chinese involvement in the Zimbabwe economy continues to grow willy-nilly, cannot China be classified as a colonial power? It is increasingly looking like that.
Last week the Chinese were comparing themselves to Western powers, claiming they had no ulterior motives.
Really, is that what everybody thinks?
What is sad about the Chinese mega-projects is that they require subservience not just for their own subjects but locals as well.
At least there have been a number of incidents in recent months in which the Chinese are having to learn the hard way that catastrophes occur when management slips! And these are the people moving in on our mineral resources.
Lies
No limit to its funding. Oh dear! Where will all the money go? Remember Marange? And the Sunday Mail has accused the British of lying about Zimbabwe’s human rights record.
The problem with these slavish newspapers is that they don’t ask any questions. So as a result they end up spreading stories about skulls that are, how shall we say, lies!
There was one notable incident involving Chief Makoni being blasted out of his mountain retreat with dynamite. But even Terence Ranger declined to endorse the more wretched aspects of that otherwise magisterial account in his Revolt in Southern Rhodesia.
Controversy
Meanwhile, there has been some controversy over which regional organisation has been the most effective, Sadc or Ecowas?
The French weren’t too enthusiastic about President Robert Mugabe’s tenure where it impinged on their sphere of influence in West Africa.
Botswana was a beacon of prosperity which saw MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai taking refuge there in the turbulent politics of 2008. Mugabe couldn’t compete with Botswana President Ian Khama’s successful economic management which included tight control over mining revenues.
Misguided
Poor old Mphoko. He just can’t seem to get it right. He told an audience recently that the next time he saw them he hoped they wouldn’t be so poor.
Officially opening the 58th edition of the Matabeleland South Agricultural Show in Gwanda, Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko said they were aware that people in resettlement areas were giving themselves leadership positions after which they go on to sell land to desperate individuals.
The VP called on the people of Matabeleland South to effectively use resources in their province, saying that it was a known fact that it had the potential of becoming the wealthiest province in the country.
“This province has between 500 000 and 600 000 people. It is a province that borders two of the country’s neighbours — South Africa and Botswana — you must use this strength to ensure that you make this corridor grow,” he said.
“You have the richest grass in the whole country which is good for cattle ranching. Further, you have gold in this province which is 85% pure.
“All these are just some of the attributes that you have as a province. What is important now is that you don’t allow people who are not from here to come and take away all these resources from you. Use them, they are all yours,” said the VP.
He said the province should also utilise irrigation schemes so that they became self-sufficient.
“I don’t want to come back here next time and find you as poor as you are. The time has come for you to stand up and work but first expose the land barons and get rid of them,” he said.
Burdened
In his article published by this paper last week; “Decrepit Mugabe plunges Zim into poverty”, Graham Boynton summarised in depth the trials and tribulations bludgeoning the country’s citizens in their quest for emancipation from neo-colonial bondage.
The petit-bourgeoisie running the affairs of the country thrives on what ruins others and what makes others thrive, as Colin Leys put it. The harsh economic environment and the decaying political set-up, which hides behind the banner of democracy, has become the burden every Zimbabwean would not want to carry.
“… While Zimbabwe has all the outward appearances of a Western democracy — elections every five years, an outspoken free press ranging from state-sponsored Zanu PF publicity papers to independent anti-Mugabe dailies, and a carefully selected judiciary going through the motions of applied justice — underneath is a cruel and ruthless Stalinist state that treats every threat to the regime’s rule with pitiless efficiency …”
Subjugation
Think of Itai Dzamara’s disappearance, the sacking of workers by companies, and the rigging of elections by President Robert Mugabe’s regime, the dereliction and basic welfare service, but nobody dares question such gross misrule.
Boynton says Zimbabweans always make a plan — but really do they have one? Muckraker feels they have no option except to submit to the whims of the ruthless ruling Zanu PF which derives pleasure in subjugating the masses.
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