The Dragon Must Be Fed

There’s an interesting article in Fast Company magazine on China’s foray into Africa. It’s making people nervous:

“This commercial invasion is without question the most important development in the sub-Sahara since the end of the Cold War — an epic, almost primal propulsion that is redrawing the global economic map. One former U.S. assistant secretary of state has called it a “tsunami.” Some are even calling the region “ChinAfrica.”

And More…..

“Africa is one of the only places in the world where so many resources are still up for grabs. It holds 90% of the world’s cobalt, 90% of its platinum, 50% of its gold, 98% of its chromium, 64% of its manganese, and one-third of its uranium. Its forests are still considered the most pristine in the world. It is rich in diamonds, has more oil reserves than North America, and is estimated to have 40% of the world’s potential hydroelectric power. It already supplies a third of the oil fueling China’s economic boom”.

The main question the article attempts to answer is whether china’s foray into Africa is just another form of exploitation (like European colonialism) or whether it will ultimately help Africa’s development.

I personally think the Chinese are not like the Europeans. They have not come to Africa with hang up’s about their own racial superiority. I think they just literally need these resources to fuel their own internal economy and they don’t give a damn about human rights and good governance in Africa. And you know what? why should they? If Africans themselves are too stupid and if they still haven’t figured out that they need to learn how to govern their own countries properly, why should the Chinese be blamed for that?

I’m getting tired of reading pieces written by mzungu’s who are always worried about Africans being exploited. Woi, woi, woi…these poor Africans. Nye, nye, nye….the Chinese are exploiting them, blah, blah, blah….

They should leave us alone to stew in our stupidity. I realized Africa’s problems are better left alone after I saw what happened in Rwanda. The Tutsi’s realized that nobody was coming to their rescue. So, they organized themselves, fought back and won. Then, Kagame focused on rebuilding the country and when he first started, they received very little help from the west. The Rwandese were forced to figure it out on their own and they did.

Besides, after colonizing us and stealing our resources, they really are in no position to be lecturing the Chinese about anything.

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