By Abbey Makoe
Economic injustices marked by constant capital outflows, emigration and condescending imperial practices – all these are some of Africa’s persistent challenges in the 21st century.
Despite evident geopolitical objectives that often disadvantage the continent, Africa does have trusted allies whose actions speaks louder than words. One such partner who believes in a shared future with Africa is the People’s Republic of China. Veteran geopolitics writer Abbey Makoe reports.
“A real friend,” said American newspaper gossip columnist and radio news commentator Walter Winchell trenchantly, “is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”
Southern Africa, buffeted by increasing emigration, erratic power supplies, bad economic data and general public disaffection might feel as if they are no stranger to the latter these days.
On the day that the continent and Africans in the Diaspora celebrate Africa Day, the vision and dreams of the founding fathers such as Kwame Nkrumah, Haile Selassie, Sekou Toure and Abubakar Balewa, among others, appear to be holding firm yet susceptible to the jitters of the geopolitical affairs.
Africa is a world leader in the production of natural wealth, yet the continent remains one of the world’s most underdeveloped. We lag behind in so many ways such as technology, manufacturing and knowledge economy architecture.
Africa possesses a significantly unmatched share of global mineral reserves. The continent is home to 92% of the world’s platinum reserves, 56% of cobalt, 54% of manganese and 36% of chromium.
I raise these economic credentials to paint the opportunities, and advantages, that Africa holds up her sleeve. Mother Africa only needs to wake up from slumber and study much more intensely the art of international relations. Our foreign policy needs to be in sync across the length and breadth of Mother Africa – from Cape to Cairo, Morocco to Madagascar.
As part of Africa’s Vision 2063, the continent under the auspices of the AU needs to identify, as collective, sincere and genuine partners who truly believe in the principle of a shared future, a win-win partnership. One such strategic partner has become China, a key player in global south affairs and a strategist in south-south relations.
Additionally, China is the world’s second-biggest economy, second only to the US but rapidly closing the gap. Leading economists believe that within the next decade, China is likely to overtake the US as the world’s biggest economy. Strategically, China is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council and therefore has a veto power that Beijing can use in event threats posed to the growth and development of Africa and the global south alike.
In my humble opinion, such are the fundamental building blocks required in the formulation of mutually beneficial international cooperation.
China’s Road and Belt Initiative have also served as a flagship of President Xi Jinping’s foreign policy objections that are aimed at spreading the country’s economic success with like-minded allies.
Nearer to home in South Africa and the region, Beijing has exhibited a desire for meaningful partnerships. Take an example of relations with South Africa: Over the past 14 years China has become the biggest trading partner with Pretoria, and is keen and eager to cement similar ties with like-minded states in the SADC region and the continent.
This month, the country delivered its second consignment of emergency power equipment aimed at helping South Africa and SADC cope with load-shedding. South Africa supplies neighbouring states with energy, such as Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini. The donation of 39 diesel generators (230v/400); 35 (100KW/h) photovoltaic energy storage power supply systems and 25 (200KW/h) photovoltaic energy storage power supply system augments the 450 gasoline generators it supplied last year.
The equipment is being distributed to public facilities such as schools, healthcare facilities and courts to help them keep the lights on and ensure that children can continue learning and that patients can continue getting the care they need while the country works to turn the lights back on permanently. Energy challenges in South Africa cut across the region in many ways. The country’s human rights-aligned healthcare services benefit millions of service users from the SADC region.
Additionally, South Africa’s education system – both basic and higher education – serves millions of learners and students from several countries combined. The assistance that China as a trusted ally renders to Pretoria therefore extends to the benefit of all.
A third and final shipment, which includes five power supply vehicles mounted with 600-800kVA generators, is also on its way. In total, China is donating R150 million worth of emergency equipment to South Africa to mitigate the effects of the costly load-shedding phenomenon that has hampering economic growth and development.
Furthermore, China is assisting South Africa and the region in its war against marauding unemployment. Last month, the South Africa-China Economic and Trade Association (SACETA) held its second Job Fair for Chinese-invested Enterprises in South Africa. More than 60 Chinese companies exhibited and over 1,000 of the 2 800 job-seekers secured jobs in finance, energy, transportation, ICT, mining, manufacturing and other fields.
In just two years since the first Job Fair was held, over 4,000 people have found jobs with Chinese companies. It may be a relative drop in the ocean. But the plans are set on encouraging more Chinese companies to invest in South Africa and the region and to employ more young people, especially graduates who remain jobless despite their qualifications.
The war on poverty is also an example of effective bilateral and multilateral cooperation. For example, despite massive gains over the 30 years of democracy in South Africa, some 13.8 million people (25 per cent) experience food poverty, according to the World Bank.
China, which has long suffered from poverty, has successfully managed to pull 800 million Chinese people out of poverty. The entire continent can therefore benchmark its strategies against China’s in terms of how the 1.4 billion population has managed to wiggle itself out of poverty.
China is also keen to assist in the field of agriculture, where the country will be providing agricultural training and scholarship opportunities in China for SADC beneficiaries as well as transferring agricultural technology and knowledge.
In the final analysis, it is not about public relations exercises, but rather in the evidence of the fruits of cooperation between like-minded states that work equally hard at maintaining and nurturing bilateral relations.
It is when allies truly invest in their friendship that their people – the citizens – stand to benefit. As the continent pauses to pay homage to its founding fathers, and mothers, it is time to cultivate meaningful partnerships based on a win-win approach.
Abbey Makoe is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief: Global South Media Network
