Investment shoring up discredited despots

REPORTS that China is poised to invest as much as $10 billion in Zimbabwe are very disturbing, but unfortunately they come as no surprise.

China now has $114.8 billion worth of bilateral trade agreements with 45 African countries, its direct investments are worth $9.33 billion, and it has promised preferential loans to Africa to the tune of $10 billion (2010-2012).

The journalist Tom McGuire wrote recently of China’s growing influence in Africa: “China now pours billions into the coffers of corrupt African regimes in exchange for huge quantities of natural resources, and for access to their impoverished populations as a dumping-ground for poor-quality products unacceptable in western markets”.

China is consolidating the position of African dictators by delivering these vast sums without any conditions of governance attached, and this is completely negating western efforts to link investment and aid to freedom and democracy.

Why should an African government play by western rules when it can get everything it wants without having to meet any conditions? Whatever leverage the west had in Africa is rapidly disappearing. Yet still we persist in channelling large amounts of aid through many of its corrupt and brutal regimes.

John O’Shea

GOAL

Co Dublin