Africa-China Relations

Africa-China Relations

Relations amongst China and African countries have gained momentum, especially with the formation of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). This forum helps China in its foreign policy strides toward becoming an economic giant in the global arena of politics. FOCAC gained momentum and success in Africa because FOCAC members were united by their historical experiences, their despise of Western hegemony and their aspirations towards development (Foster et al, 2009).

This relationship is best explained under the theory of dependence associates a state’s economic growth as being determined by external factors within the global system Namkoong (1999:35). This theory is useful in explaining the underdevelopment of Africa and the complexities of the zero-sum game between countries in the global south and the global north.

The reality of the Afro-China relationship is that most African countries have continued to supply China and most parts of the globe with raw materials and continue to be dependent on those countries. For example, in Zimbabwe, Ndlovu-Gatsheni (2016:31) comments that Zimbabwe’s Look East Policy was in search of a better patron or donor. This move is a clear demonstration of the dependency syndrome premised on the belief of Zimbabwe not being able to stand on its own feet, without assistance. Afro-China relations are a simple indication that going to the East generally transformed the nature, character and form of dependency from that of the past to a new one, without shifting the logic, (Mandaza, 2004:21).

There is no denying that China has helped in the facilitation of trade and economic growth in Africa, but the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits. Most critics refer to Afro-China relations as, reminiscent of European colonisation because just like before Africa serves as a cheap cradle of raw materials, a worthwhile export market for Chinese manufactured goods, and an outlet for its excess capital. Rather than a development partner, some perceive China as Africa's biggest development opponent, whose explosive growth and limitless quest for global markets threaten Africa's industrialisation and competitiveness, (Zeleza 2014:145-169). BACOSSI goods or Chinese dumping practices in Africa cripple Africa’s manufacturing industry. With the flood of Chinese goods into the Zimbabwean market, the issue of low-quality Chinese goods, such as food, clothing, textiles and electrical goods, has been raised by the local population. It is a cycle that cripples the local market and inhibits sustainable market competition.

There is also the existence of what can be termed the Chinese debt trap where through its relations with less economically developed countries it leverages opportunities that trap countries in an endless cycle of debt. A few examples include Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia, Laos and Mongolia. This drains the foreign currency reserves these countries have as they use the reserves to pay interest on those loans it is a slow, steady and lethal type of preying mechanism.

Let us look at a case study of China and Kenya. China offered Kenya grants and loans for infrastructure, plant and equipment. These were mainly in road construction projects, modernization of power distribution, rural electrification, water, renovation of an international sports centre, medical and drugs for fighting malaria, and construction of a malaria research centre. China contributed significantly to addressing Kenya‘s infrastructure deficit, (Chege, 2006). However, similar sentiments of unfair deals have been echoed about China’s involvement with Kenya. In Kenya, they were blamed for bringing labour from their mother country hence no meaningful employment was created for Kenyans, (Bar et al, 2012) Another problem that has been blamed on the Chinese is that of unbalanced trade between the two. Just like in most African cases, the Kenyans export low-value natural resources and produces to China while the latter brings high value good to the former, (Halper, 2010). In terms of economic calculation, it is China that benefits more.

The Zimbabwe Investment Agency (ZIDA) in its 2022 annual report noted that China had become the southern African country’s biggest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as it accounted for 76.2 percent of the $3 billion projects approved. FDI is beneficial for Zimbabwe’s mining sector. However, worker’s unions have reported that most Chinese employers have become notorious for labor violations such as torture, beatings, gender-based violence, low wages, and a host of other labor violations. This has also been the case in DRC, ZAMBIA, and CAMEROON. Chinese mining in Africa is associated with a lot of environmental damage and mine tailings which in turn have a negative impact on those living in the surrounding areas. Zimbabwe's Great Dyke (Midlands) communities for example have been affected by environmental and infrastructure degradation, leaving open pits as death traps for humans and livestock.,

As believed by African proverbs a child cannot continue to depend on the mother rather as the child grows they become more and more independent and they eventually leave their mother’s nest. Ndlovu-Gatsheni (2016:33), also buttressed this fact when he noted that as long as Africa continues to leap from one patron to another for financial assistance or any other form of aid, the premises of dependency theory remains critical in understanding the structures that define and allow such dependency. In this regard, dependency remains continuous in Africa until Africans realize that it causes underdevelopment. That is why the AfCFTA is a wonderful opportunity for African states to wean themselves from the dependency syndrome and take on a more dependent narrative.

There is no denying that China is a good example of how to realize economic growth. For example, China is in its 14th 5-year plan (2021-2025) at the same time Zimbabwe is also in its National Development Strategy (NDS) 1(2021-2025). There are so many economic reform lessons Zimbabwe can take from China's 5-year plan but it is also important to note that one size does not fit all there so what works for China will not necessarily work in Zimbabwe. There is, therefore a stronger need for African solutions to African problems.

#Africa

#AfCFTA

#Development