Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhao Baogang, last week dismissed claims that the Chinese government is on a mission to recolonise Zimbabwe and Africa amid questions over the eastern giant’s aggressive projects in the continent.
Zhao accused the western world of being at the forefront of accusing China’s growing influence in Africa.
He said while there is a new way of colonialism by other global powers, his country’s hands were clean as they have not brought in mercenaries, guns, to occupy land or possess it.
“I don’t know why they always accuse us or make accusations that we want to recolonise Zimbabwe or Africa.
‘We have come here with bulldozers, front loaders with all this equipment to build airports, power generation project and capacitate locals. How can we deserve such kind of accusations,” he said.
Ambassador Zhao said his country has not launched any missile to repossess Africa and has not captured any head of an African country.
This is in reference to the alleged killing of former Libya president Muammar Gadhafi, who was killed during a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) assisted attack on Tripoli in 2011.
Much to its credit, China’s development has not only benefitted the natives but it has expanded to other countries, mainly Africa and Zimbabwe In particular through financing various projects.
In Zimbabwe, the Chinese government has financed the rehabilitation of Robert Mugabe International Airport, the Victoria Falls International Airport, the Kariba South Power Extension Project, the Hwange Thermal Power Station Rehabilitation project among other things.
Since the People’s Republic of China was established in 1979, China has risen from being a developing country to be the world’s second largest economy and it has one of the best performing economies in the world with a growth rate of 9.4% per annum.
Zhao said his government encourages cooperation with Zimbabwe and encouraged the media to be the custodians of sustainable reporting.
