Zhao Baogang
Shingirai Vambe
HARARE – The China-Zimbabwe
relationship is viewed by many as bad because China is said to be enjoying
unfair advantages but the giant Asian state has business ethics, acting ambassador
Zhao Baogang has said.
relationship is viewed by many as bad because China is said to be enjoying
unfair advantages but the giant Asian state has business ethics, acting ambassador
Zhao Baogang has said.
He
said this during a recent Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and University
of Zimbabwe (UZ)’s Faculty of Industry and Commerce business symposium in the
capital.
said this during a recent Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and University
of Zimbabwe (UZ)’s Faculty of Industry and Commerce business symposium in the
capital.
Ambassador
Zhao Baogang said Zimbabwe had faced many challenges for a long time, adding
that he hoped the new government will turn things around.
Zhao Baogang said Zimbabwe had faced many challenges for a long time, adding
that he hoped the new government will turn things around.
“China
saw an opportunity in Zimbabwe and we appreciate our working ethics. We don’t
support corruption and we don’t implement policies in the same manner that Zimbabwe
does. In China, we first put them (policies) on trial and implement only if
they are acceptable,” said Baogang.
saw an opportunity in Zimbabwe and we appreciate our working ethics. We don’t
support corruption and we don’t implement policies in the same manner that Zimbabwe
does. In China, we first put them (policies) on trial and implement only if
they are acceptable,” said Baogang.
He
criticised the country’s so-called special economic zones, saying those were
only pieces of land with no requisite infrastructure to support their
apportioned status.
criticised the country’s so-called special economic zones, saying those were
only pieces of land with no requisite infrastructure to support their
apportioned status.
“We
were told of a special economic zone in one part of Harare but the place has no
roads, no water, neither is there electricity and you call that a special
economic zone. You need to be more serious and transparent,” he said.
were told of a special economic zone in one part of Harare but the place has no
roads, no water, neither is there electricity and you call that a special
economic zone. You need to be more serious and transparent,” he said.
One
of the participants, Dr Joseph Kanyekanye criticised the ‘Look East’ policy
which he said had not benefitted the country since its adoption in the wake of
the Land Reform Programme.
of the participants, Dr Joseph Kanyekanye criticised the ‘Look East’ policy
which he said had not benefitted the country since its adoption in the wake of
the Land Reform Programme.
“In
Zimbabwe we have a syndrome which I have decided to call a slow and stop
syndrome. We are not able not move with speed even to create one thing of our
own. Accountability and transparency is one subject for which I ask the
Parliament of Zimbabwe to play its oversight role with due diligence,” Kanyekanye
said.
Zimbabwe we have a syndrome which I have decided to call a slow and stop
syndrome. We are not able not move with speed even to create one thing of our
own. Accountability and transparency is one subject for which I ask the
Parliament of Zimbabwe to play its oversight role with due diligence,” Kanyekanye
said.
He
said Zimbabwe had nobody but itself to blame for failing to exploit its
relationship with China to retool its industry and grow its economy.
said Zimbabwe had nobody but itself to blame for failing to exploit its
relationship with China to retool its industry and grow its economy.
China
stands accused of taking unfair advantage of Zimabwe and the rest of Africa to
loot natural resources through many ways including unfair trade deals,
exploitative labour practices and the dumping of poor quality products.
stands accused of taking unfair advantage of Zimabwe and the rest of Africa to
loot natural resources through many ways including unfair trade deals,
exploitative labour practices and the dumping of poor quality products.
