Page 10 - atoday

A10 China’s Xi to head to Africa

WORLD NEWSTuesday 1 December 2015 FARAI MUTSAKA
Associated Press
Cameron: HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Some immigration signs at
Zimbabwe’s main international airport are in Chinese,
Syria airstrikes debate set for Wednesday a sign of China’s deep economic inroads in Africa,
which Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit this week.
British Prime Minister David Cameron addresses world leaders at the COP21, United Nations Xi arrives Tuesday in Zimbabwe before heading on
Wednesday to South Africa. There, he will attend a
Climate Change Conference, in Le Bourget, outside Paris, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015. Cameron forum on cooperation between Africa and China,
whose investment on the continent has soared in the
called for a debate and vote in Parliament on Wednesday on whether Britain should launch past decade. Zimbabwe, whose economy is faltering,
would like to get a bigger piece of it.
airstrikes against militants in Syria. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) China’s overall trade with Africa topped $200 billion
last year but has slowed over the past two years as
DANICA KIRKA State group militants — militants in Iraq, and the the weakening Chinese economy demands fewer of
GREGORY KATZ also known as ISIL — not question before lawmak- the continent’s oil, copper and other raw materials.
Associated Press just in Iraq, but Syria as well. ers would be whether the Chinese-built roads, bridges and power installations
LONDON (AP) — Prime Min- “I can announce that I will mandate for the strikes are found across Africa, often paid for in resources or
ister David Cameron called be recommending to Cab- should be expanded to through loans from China that must eventually be re-
for a debate and vote in inet tomorrow that we hold Syria. Cameron has said, paid. Along with those looming debts, some African
Parliament on Wednesday a debate and a vote in the “we have to hit these ter- nations have expressed anger over Chinese compa-
on whether Britain should House of Commons to ex- rorists in their heartlands,” nies’ use of Chinese workers and other practices that
launch airstrikes against tend the airstrikes that we and argued that it made fail to benefit local economies.
militants in Syria, arguing have carried out against no sense to stop at borders Inexpensive Chinese goods have long been popular
that the nation must stand ISIL in Iraq to Syria, that we that were ignored by the in Africa, and in the last decade Chinese merchants
with its allies in confront- answer the call from our al- militants. The government have started eliminating the middle man and setting
ing extremism. Cameron’s lies and work with them be- has been trying to build up retail outlets of their own, much to local merchants’
statement Monday comes cause ISIL is a threat to our support among lawmakers chagrin. In 2011, riots in the Ugandan capital of Kam-
only hours after opposi- country and this is the right for military action before pala largely targeted the city’s foreign merchants.
tion leader Jeremy Cor- thing to do,” he said. calling the vote in Parlia- There are about a million Chinese living in Africa,
byn decided that Labour Cameron has repeatedly ment. mostly engaged in commercial work, according to
Party lawmakers would be said he wouldn’t take the “It is in the national interest, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Af-
allowed to vote their con- matter to Parliament unless it is the right thing to do, we rica. Xi’s visit to Zimbabwe is his first and he’ll meet
science on the matter — he could be certain of vic- will be acting with our al- President Robert Mugabe, who has been quoted by
rather than to keep party tory, worried that Britain’s lies, we will be careful and Zimbabwean state media as saying they will discuss
discipline and have a uni- prestige would be at risk. responsible as we do so, “some of the projects and programs we want Chi-
fied stance. If the measure is approved but in my view it’s the right na to assist us in undertaking.”
The move by the Labour in Parliament, British military thing to do this to keep our Despite the collaboration, Mugabe has expressed
leader gave Cameron operations are expected country safe,” he said after concern in the past, telling the Chinese in 2012 to re-
confidence he had the to start shortly afterward. returning to his Downing spect Zimbabwe’s investment and labor laws.
votes to clinch an expan- Britain’s Royal Air Force is Street office after attend- “To our Chinese friends we say, ‘You don’t just come,
sion of the mandate of already part of a U.S.-led ing the opening of climate you have to respect our rules,” the Zimbabwean lead-
British forces to hit Islamic campaign against the talks in Paris.q er said at a gathering of the ruling party.
China pumped $600 million into Zimbabwe in 2013,
making it the biggest foreign investor with interests
ranging from gold, diamond and platinum mining
to tobacco, nickel, chrome, construction, energy
and telecommunications, said Chinese ambassador
Huang Ping. Zimbabwe’s economy is battered by
mass company closures, high unemployment, low li-
quidity and foreign direct investment and food short-
ages. The government has been struggling to raise
money to pay its workers, often shifting pay dates.
Over two-thirds of Zimbabweans survive on informal
trade, according to the African Development Bank.q