Zimbabwe must take full advantage of CPC friendship

Opinion by Maryline Makahamadze

Harare- THERE is little doubt that as the year 2022 ends, one of the most significant global political events that took place in the year was the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The CPC is the governing party in China, and it enjoys great ties with a host of parties in other parts of the world, including Zimbabwe, where it enjoys close relations with Zanu-PF.

The CPC’s 20th National Congress was a festival of ideas that will have profound effect not just on China’s domestic politics but also globally.

The issues that came from the Congress are significant, and are especially important for developing countries to take full advantage of their friendship with China so as to march with the Asian giant in its advancing development trajectory.

Several dynamics underline this. First, China – as the globe’s biggest developing country – opened up to friendship with other peoples and sister parties.

This is how it managed to support liberation struggles in Africa half a century ago.

The support for liberation struggles translated to political and diplomatic ties with new states.

Following China’s own policy of reform and opening up, it established economic ties that now make China Africa’s largest trading partner.

With further opening up, China has now offered developing countries even closer economic ties that are in line with its vision of a global shared future.

China opposes the erection of fences, protectionism and zero sum games in global trade.

China’s own path of modernisation has proved a success: it attained its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects; and now has begun the task of seeking to achieve a modern socialist state that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the middle of the 21st century.D

Despite all this success of its model, China has not sought to impose its will on other countries. With the guidance of the CPC, China has maintained a stance of non-interference and mutual respect.

China insists that countries should follow their own development paths, and that no one model is suitable for everywhere, meaning that local conditions are important.

This is significant. Western interventionism has been counterproductive and utterly devastating in some cases as they have fomented coups and wars.

In Zimbabwe’s case, imposition of sanctions and sponsorship of the opposition by the West have crippled the economy and poisoned the political space.

This means that Zimbabwe must take full advantage of its relationship with China so that it not only has a geopolitical ally, but also a friend to walk hand in hand with.

The CPC Congress emphasised these bonds and fundamental differences with the West.

At a recent seminar with local editors in Zimbabwe, Ambassador of China here – Mr Guo Shaochun – explained a number of key principles that underline cooperation between China and the rest of the world under the direction of the party.

The Ambassador explained that the CPC and China recognise the right of countries to follow their own development paths. China believes that the future of the world should be decided by all, which is the reason why it believes in multilateralism and democratisation of global institutions: the reform and development of global governance architecture will lead to greater democracy, equality and breaking down of barriers and fences.

China and the CPC oppose use of sanctions, maximum pressure practices and unilateralism.

Thirdly, China believes is an open global economy undergirded by mutual benefits and new opportunities.

In principle, this is why China is continuing to open up to the world, a practice it started in 1978.

In practice, China focuses on development and its engagements, cooperation, assistance are recipient-driven, open, transparent and bear tangible results.

The huge infrastructural developments such as improvements on airports, new Parliament building, power infrastructure, medical cooperation, among others, are all tangible results.

China’s approach is open and inclusive and the Asian giant doesn’t meddle in the Zimbabwe’s internal affairs in the name of assistance or embark on coercive measures.

In fact, China also opposes sanctions on Zimbabwe. One of the key indicators of China’s openness, transparency and inclusiveness is that its activities, including Zimbabwe cooperation, take place within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which is an open, interactive and programmatic platform between the continent and China. As Zimbabwe makes strides in development, China is pleased for its progress, according to Ambassador Guo. As we speak, more cooperation is on the way.

This includes Covid-19 assistance, agriculture technical experts, borehole drilling, high performance computing centre, cooperation in dealing with narcotics, clean energy, satellite as well as policy support for the export of more Zimbabwe’s agriculture products to China.

At the same time, Zimbabwe continues to enjoy growing favourable trade with China and increasing Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).

No country at present has a more comprehensive cooperation with Zimbabwe than China.

Zimbabwe must seize the moment. *

Marilyn Makahamadze is a researcher and writer for a Harare-based think tank.She writes in her own capacity.