Mugabe seeks China aid for crumbling regime
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe was in Beijing today in an apparent effort to secure aid and investment for his crumbling economy.
Mugabe blames the economic crisis in Zimbabwe on Western sanctions imposed in response to land seizures and human rights abuses. His “Look East” policy seeks aid from China and other Asian countries that are less likely to raise human rights concerns.
China is reported to covet mining rights in Zimbabwe as it trawls the globe for raw materials to feed its economic boom.
Mugabe is scheduled to meet Chinese Presient Hu Jintao tomorrow. He also is to meet other top officials and travel to the north-eastern province of Jilin during his week-long visit, which began on Saturday.
No details of what the two sides will discuss have been released.
New Zealand has urged Beijing to change the way it gives aid to Zimbabwe.
“New Zealand is asking China to channel aid to Zimbabwe through proper aid projects so that it goes to the people who need it and can’t be subverted by the Mugabe regime,” government spokesman James Funnell said last week.
According to Zimbabwean government figures, China has entered joint ventures and loan agreements with Zimbabwe worth $100m (€83m) since 1980 and has assisted in the training of its army.
Zimbabwe has suffered five years of steep economic decline since the government began seizing white-owned farms to give to landless blacks. Some of the best farms have ended up in the hands of ruling party officials.
More recently, Mugabe has come under fire from the United Nations for a so-called urban cleanup drive that has seen the demolition of shantytowns where thousands of Zimbabweans live.
The UN says 700,000 people have lost their homes or jobs. Mugabe’s rivals say the campaign is aimed at breaking up opposition strongholds among the urban poor.
