[I wonder if Mugabe isn’t making a serious miscalculation with this move? I say that because he is now pitting West against East, and the West, as wishy washy Liberal as it is, still packs a serious punch. If the West should feel its interests threatened in Africa is could start undermining Mugabe’s regime. The West, after all, only is really interested in Africa’s raw materials, and if Mugabe becomes a Chinese outpost threatening that… it might backfire. The West can also arm and sponsor and black African country it wants. The West can also create outposts in Africa. e.g. Uganda as an example.

Many African Americans have attacked me over the years for saying that Mugabe was armed by the Chinese. Take a look at the Reuters report below, which says exactly that! Jan]

Harare – Zimbabwe™s military wanted to forge a new “strategic partnership” with China, an increasingly important ally, as President Robert Mugabe™s government fights international isolation, an official newspaper said yesterday. Mugabe has been seeking friends in Asia under his “look east policy”, following mainly western accusations that his government is guilty of human rights abuses. Analysts say Zimbabwe plays an important role in China™s strategic plans to increase access to Africa™s oil and other raw materials, with Zimbabwe™s platinum, nickel and copper deposits being of interest to Chinese companies. The state-run Herald newspaper said Zimbabwe Defence Force (ZDF) commander Gen Constantine Chiwenga told a recent group of Chinese military visitors that Zimbabwe™s army had benefited greatly from Chinese aid. This included jets brought from China, which the state failed to account for, training exchange programmes and instructors from China™s People™s Liberation Army. Mugabe™s government also has bought arms and armoured trucks from Beijing. Mugabe™s relationship with China dates back to the 1970s, during Zim-babwe™s guerrilla war. The relationship has deepened since 2000 as western countries imposed sanctions on Mugabe™s government over allegations of vote-rigging and political repression. Harare now frequently invokes China as one of its strongest allies. China is already the largest buyer of Zimbabwe™s tobacco, the yield of which has fallen by over half since Mugabe™s land grab. During a dinner for the Chinese delegation led by Gen Zhang Bangdong, Chiwenga said there was a realignment of global power relations and praised the Chinese military commander for working hard to improve ties in Africa.

From Reuters, 28 March
By: Cris Chinaka