China's Cold War aid still shapes African ties
The PPRIZ online dialogue brought together researchers, civil society representatives, and policymakers from Africa, China and the West to critically examine China's expanding footprint on the continent.
HARARE, Zimbabwe — China's historical support of African revolutionary movements during their anti-colonial struggles has bred an ideological affinity that persists today between Beijing and the continent's liberation parties turned political rulers, according to speakers at an online dialogue Thursday, writes Winston Mwale.
That was the observation of some speakers at the online dialogue hosted by the Public Policy and Research Institute of Zimbabwe (PPRIZ) as part of its "China-Africa Relationship Dialogue Series."
"In every African country whose liberation struggle was supported by China, there is a strong relationship between Beijing and the government of the particular African country," said Dr. Ronald Chipaike, a research fellow at the Public Policy and Research Institute of Zimbabwe ( (PPRIZ), citing the principle of non-interference in other nations' internal affairs as the basis for relations.
As an example of continued Chinese outreach, Chipaike pointed to the Julius Nyerere Leadership School set up by China in Tanzania in 2015 that provides training in national governance and administration to ruling party officials and members of parliament from Southern African countries.
While details of the curriculum are scarce, Chipaike said the school "may be one way of overtly spreading the CCP's leadership or governance ideology, which may be inimical to democracy."
Similarly, he questioned China's motivation behind building or renovating parliament buildings in 15 African countries, asking: "Are African governments so poor that they cannot finance their parliament buildings?"
Basil Hamusokwe, a lecturer at the University of Zambia, recounted his country's frontline role after independence in 1964 in supporting liberation movements like South Africa's ANC and Zimbabwe's ZAPU which were banned in their home countries under white rule.
But Hamusokwe also noted how Chinese foreign policy today sustains autocratic regimes, saying China "seemed to propel pariah regimes that violate the human rights of their citizens."
"A careful examination of some of the aspects of China-African relations suggests that China, at times, seemed to propel pariah regimes that violate the human rights of their citizens and cramp down on voices on dissenting voices," Hamusokwe said.
Both presenters agreed that while China's strict non-interference doctrine respects countries' sovereignty, it also shields repressive governments from pressure to uphold civil liberties and democratic reforms.
The PPRIZ online dialogue brought together researchers, civil society and policymakers to critically examine China's expanding footprint in Africa.