China and Africa: A Marriage Made in Heaven or Neocolonialism?

Zambia welcomed Chinese president Hu Jintao last week as part of his eight nation tour of Africa. President Hu spent a few days signing economic deals, shaking hands, celebrating the "One China Policy" and sharing platitudes about how wonderful each other's country is. Except that when I say "Zambia welcomed" perhaps I should have said, "a few people welcomed." The role of China in Africa in general, and in Zambia particularly, is still one of much debate. It was controversial enough for President Hu to cancel most of his planned visit here for fear of protests.

The pro-China argument goes like this. China needs resources for its growing economy. Africa has resources it needs to sell and it needs jobs and investments at home to generate job opportunities for Africans. Thus, the argument goes, China's gestures of goodwill (forgiving debts, creating economic zones of investment in numerous countries throughout the continent, building infrastructure, etc.) are in good faith and will have huge benefits for African countries. In Zambia, for example, an economic zone was created, and with it an expected 60,000 jobs. Speaking of 60,000, the Chinese are also building an "ultramodern" (whatever that means) stadium to seat 60,000 people. Needless to say, the government is tickled pink by the arrangement. So far so good right?

Well, others would say that China is merely looking to exploit Africa for its resources and are embarking on a new form of economic colonialism. Cheap Chinese goods, they say, will flood African markets and thus drive local industries under. Meanwhile, the Chinese will extract large amounts of resources to fuel their growth and will leave Africa for broke once the resources are gone. It is also argued that the Chinese investors have exploited their African employees and provide terrible working conditions. This argument is especially put forth in Zambia by the Patriotic Front and their president Michael Sata. In fact, he decided to embark on a visit to Taiwan coinciding with the Hu's visit to Zambia and will be expelling the mayor of Lusaka (elected as a PF councillor) who made the "wrong" decision to attend the welcoming and farewell ceremonies for the Chinese entourage. Sata also allegedly received considerable campaign financing from Taiwanese businessmen and met with them in Malawi a few days before the election.

So the debate in Zambia rages on about the benefits of Chinese investment. Hu has now gone on to Namibia and Mozambique dropping goodies all along the way. Certainly China wants something out of its relationship with African nations, but it may be too early to tell whether or not the relationship will work out as well for both parties as they wish it.