Tell them the flame that igni- ted between the Chinese and Africans still burns.
Whenever they ask, tell them Chinese investors made deals with the Zambian government to mine its natural resources.
They filled federal coffers with billions of dollars to the brim.
Their immigrants moved into Zambian cities and rural towns.
They started construction companies.
They opened coal, copper and gem mines.
Tell them how the Chinese built restaurants and hotels and how that provided jobs.
Don’t forget to mention that they set up schools and hospitals.
But also tell them that instances of corruption erupted.
Speak about the labour abuse, and criminal cover-ups.
Do not be afraid to emphasise that this was the genesis, the spark which ignited the flame between the Chinese and Africans.
Say yes, the investment will boost our economy.
But we cannot forget that the thin line between man and country is weaved into the fabric of a man living on his knees.
He takes whatever handout is handed to him.
Consequences are a thing to worry about when his tummy is full.
In the playground of investments, you ride the see-saw with whichever child is willing to play with you.
The jungle gym is full of hyenas. A man on his knees is limited to the fireman’s pole in this neck of the woods.
Especially if his currency keeps shimmying down.
You will never see him on the swing. The swing is for the elite. The pendulum squad.
The slide is for he who is knee-deep in debt and the last thing he needs is another loan in the guise of an investment.
He will take it, anyway.
And after climbing, sliding down is inevitable.
What will we tell them when they ask which part of our souls did we sell to China for them to invest R195billion into the South African economy?
What do we say when we are reminded that some Africans have become displeased?
They are unhappy with unbalanced relationships where China has taken proprietorship of African natural resources.
They are doleful that same proprietorships use Chinese labour and equipment.
They are despairing because, with some Chinese labour and equipment, no skills or technology are transferred.
A man living on his knees has nothing but time.
He is willing to let it tell if the Chinese have come to our land as a benefactor or as an imperialist.
He is willing to let it tell if they are a terracotta army in shining armour.
Or double-dealing descendants of armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, devouring Africa’s natural resources on the cheap.
Africa is a treasure trove.
If it wasn’t, the “new scramble” would not have begun.
Our shoulders have not forgotten the weight of resource-based imperialism in colonial Africa.
The imbalanced trade where our land was used to harvest raw materials and then we had manufactured goods sold back to us by the imperialist country.
Nothing short of De Beers and our diamonds.
Tell them the flame that ignited between the Chinese and Africans still burns.
But also tell them we are not victims and the Chinese did not strong-arm us.
When no one else would play with us in the playground of investments, these Great Wall warriors were more than willing to ride the see-saw with us.
Tell them we are the ones looking for a quick solution to our economic woes.
@Rabbie_Wrote
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