Story by Justin Mahlahla
Former Zimbabwean envoy to China, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, has paid tribute to China for standing with Zimbabwe and supporting the Southern African nation’s quest for socio-economic emancipation.
In his address at the Forum on Human Rights in Beijing, China, recently, Ambassador Mutsvangwa noted that Harare-Beijing relations are growing and the two friendly nations keep reaching to ever new heights in bilateral ties.
He expressed his appreciation of the way China’s Xinhua News Agency is covering global issues, as opposed to the negative publicity of Africa portrayed on Western media.
“I used to be chief executive of the national broadcasting company. So, I fully appreciate the fresh, positive informative and sympathetic coverage of global affairs that is the hallmark of Xinhua News Agency. They have killed a media pandemic called Afro-pessimism that was always peddled by CNN and BBC,” he said.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa noted China’s growing interest in building mutually-beneficial relations with the whole of Africa through the China-Africa Forum (FOCAC).
“This Forum is about Human Rights. China’s performance is the brightest shining star in the comity of nations. Zimbabwe is particularly delighted with the Vienna Declaration of Human Rights 60 years ago. We are number 3 last born African nation. We fought a bitter armed struggle for our freedom with then poor and struggling China as key military supporter,” he said.
“The CPC has charted a blazing trail of cooperation with Africa properly and squarely adopting and responding to changing times and new responsibilities in global affairs. Most important is the gratitude to the people of China for their massive contribution to human economic development as China became second largest global economy in less four decades,” Ambassador Mutsvangwa said.
He added, “The Forum is focussed on Human Rights and the allegiance to pursuit of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Human Rights at the founding of the United Nations Organization. This vital document captures the universal aspirations of all humanity in the endeavour of common progress and shared development. As Africans, we owe our restore sovereignty to the precepts of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) and its globalising appeal. We need jealously defend its integrity against new isolationists and their tendentious revisionist schemes. There are those in Washington, London and Brussels who are now espousing some version of their ‘New Roles Based International Order’. This Forum must send a message loud and clear. It is an emphatic ‘NO’ to the a new DIKTAT by post imperialists and hegemonists.”
The former diplomat also chronicled Zimbabwe’s trajectory and its thrust towards self-rule and the right to chart its own socio-economic and political trajectory.
“Today, Zimbabwe presents a case study of how consistent and concerted cooperation with China continues to chart ever new vistas of prosperity for our people. The Global Security Initiative as well as the Belt and Road Initiative spell out a vision of shared safety and development agenda among nations. Zimbabwe and China have a long history of cooperation in defence and security affairs dating to the pre-independence struggle.
“My present President, H.E. Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa is the only survivor of our first batch of military cadres to initiate the armed fight for independence against colonialism. He trained in Nanjing in 1964. Ten years later, I left university studies to join the same military struggle. This time there tens of thousands youthful recruits. Thanks to this effort, today Zimbabwe is a tried and tested nation state that jealously safeguards its independence and sovereignty. Thank you China.”
He continued, “Human Resource: Zimbabwe boasts Africa’s the Highest Literacy Rate of Africa. We owe this stellar achievement to the organisation ethos of our people as they fought for freedom. You cannot simply win against a well-known modern imperial power unless you organise the people. We tapped this experience. Our rural villagers went on to build schools for free on their own. We reserved the limited post war national budget to salaries for teachers.
“Land Restitution: Zimbabwe possesses a strong and bold national state machinery inherited from the war. As of year 2000, we relied on it to recover our land from the white racist colonial settler minority. The West was offended by this act of the just restitution of our natural resources. American, British and Western retribution was immediate, prompt and ruthless. We have suffered punitive sanctions since 2022. Only Cuba has been so penalised longer. Delegates will be relieved and delighted we are still standing. Actually, we are now thriving. We thank China for helping us withstanding and now defy the wrath of the West.
Access to Chinese capital markets has been our rescue from the clutches.”
Ambassador Mutsvangwa narrated how Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry has benefited from Chinese markets and expertise.
“In 2005 the Chinese Communist Party dispatched China Tobacco Company, the global number one cigarette behemoth to go and invest in growing tobacco leaves with the new black African majority farmers. This saved our land reform programme. Today, nearly 200 000 families benefit; as opposed to a mere 4000 former white farmers. And a billion US dollars is being shared every year. All to reduce rural poverty and grow prosperity.”
He mentioned the various projects initiated and invested in by Chinese businesses in Zimbabwe, such as the Tsingshan Group Holdings, which invested in proceeding Zimbabwe’s rich resources of ferro-chrome, high carbon thermal coal and iron ore deposits; the Manhize Steel Project and several other projects in carbon steel production, electricity generation, new water systems, ports, road and rail logistics.
He also highlighted the country’s achievements in the gold mining sector as well as prospects in the emerging lithium industry.
“Lithium is the new, ‘white gold’ as vehicle mobility shifts from fossil fuels to new energy electric vehicles. Zimbabwe boasts among world’s top five deposits of hard rock lithium.
Delegates will be delighted to know the up to five top Chinese billionaires are now investing in both mining and beneficiation of lithium within Zimbabwe. We are delighted to see the capitals of the West begin to make overtures to positively engage with Zimbabwe. Hopefully, sanctions will soon be lifted. For Zimbabwe, the more the merrier.”
Ambassador Mutsvangwa reiterated President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ‘friend to all and enemy to none’ mantra, and referred to the coming 23 August general elections.
“We pride ourselves to be the first ever former guerrilla movement to embrace elections as the avenue to independence in 1980. We will continue to find new opportunities and overcome challenges in providing fertile material ground to our bilateral cooperation.
That way we realise full and tangible human rights for our people and contribute for all humanity. Beijing has given Zimbabwe the gift of another chance. Thank you President Xi Jinping; thank you Communist Party of China; Thank you the People of China.”
