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Tapiwa Muruviwa-Correspondent

Let me start off on a very progressive note in terms of what I think is happening in our mother land. I need to make my points so clear as a result that it should be understood where post-independent Zimbabwe has evolved up to and why our bond with the Republic of China is unbreakable. 

Zimbabwe endures to be one indispensable nation, the continent of Africa and the world at large needs a strong Zimbabwe. 

The first job of the President as the Commander-in- Chief is to keep the Zimbabwean people safe. 

The occurrence, recurrence and persistence terrorist insurgency attacks, which have occurred in some parts of Africa have from to time to time seen Zimbabwe seized with efforts to augment her military strength and capabilities against any future threat to national security. 

There is what we as international relations scholars call the tangible elements of power, and within this there is military power that transmits to the conception that state power is backed by military strength. 

When it comes to measuring the strength of the military there are several factors to consider and some of these includes military expertise, technological weapons, military equipment and manpower. 

Military power largely permits countries in the world politics to wage war or to deter each other. 

Though there are other intangibles such as leadership, training and morale, a state must carefully analyse its military capability vis a viz other states in pursuing foreign policy objectives. Significantly, it is amidst these realities and verities of world politics that has permitted post-independent Zimbabwe also to escalate strategic ties with allies and friends who are commitment to helping the country enhance its military capabilities. 

In this dispensation, the Republic of China can be lauded as Zimbabwe’s greatest ally, China is a true friend and, that is the reason why working with Beijing, the 2nd Republic under the unwavering leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has generated an unprecedented and robust military co-operation in history. 

The recent donation of Beijing military hardware, which was presented to Harare administration at Inkomo Mechanised Brigade highly symbolizes the extent to which China continues to deepen cooperation with Zimbabwe across the whole spectrum of security from military hardware to technology. 

Invoking the context of conflict management and resolution, there can be no doubt that this donation has the potential to significantly impact Zimbabwe’s defence capabilities and propels her military contribution to continental peace-keeping missions. 

On the same note, let me also briefly touch on an issue, which I believe is a bit of a negative. A plethora of political and social commentators argue that the military donation from Beijing must be welcomed with a pinch of salt. 

The pundits solely singled out Beijing as a dominant hegemony with mineral interests in our mother land, Zimbabwe. They harangued that“there is no free lunch, nations are driven by interests not love”. 

This extract clearly makes evident how realist connotations were invoked to interpret the ties between the two countries despite the fact that they are other established international relations main beliefs that can best explicate the ties between the two administrations. 

While realism gives emphasis to world politics as a zero-sum game, liberals and idealist argue that, there is mutual cooperation in world politics. 

Cooperation at one spectrum will possibly lead to cooperation on other spectrum. 

From its inception in 2003, the Look East Policy was primarily designed to support trade and bi-lateral investments between Harare and Beijing. Fast forward, we are seeing the candle burning from both sides as the relations traversed from economic ties to another spectrum of peace and security. 

But then again, I also think it’s important to step back and consider about what happened during the liberation struggle and why our relationship with the Chinese is unshakable. Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle coincided with the Cold War (1945-1989). 

The ideological contestations and contradictions of the war shaped the global economic and political configuration that allowed all other subordinate societies in particular, Zimbabwe to have the space from which to choose its own preferred ideology. 

The Soviet Union and China extended their influence by providing material support in the form of technical and military aid to the Zimbabwean liberation movements that had accepted and aligned towards socialist ideology predominantly, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), which was fighting against the white colonial regime. 

Upon attaining in 1980, Zimbabwe’s economic and political fabric was crocheted within precepts of socialist ideology. 

This then goes to underline why all revolutionary parties on the continent including our own ZANU-PF a peace loving party have never cut that umbilical cord and thus, maintained tremendous ties with both China and Russia. 

This historical connection seriously underscores the unshakable bond between Beijing and Harare. It is against this backdrop that, this article discredits all other narratives in particular the accounts of the pundits as unrealistic. 

Even as Zimbabwe is in great need that should not then go to demonstrate that our ties with China is a zero-sum game. 

We are treated as equals. Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, our sovereignty is one of the things that the government hold dearly to. So, any suggestion that Zimbabwe is being colonised by China, is offensive. 

Let me just close by saying that, the tragic events that we saw in Somalia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and more outstandingly in Capo Delgado, Mozambique where thousands innocent men, women and children were hacked to death by spontaneous terrorist insurgency critically emphasises the degree in which this continues to be a challenge not just for these mentioned countries but for the entire continent to prevent terrorist attacks. 

Terrorist networks can spill over to other neighbouring countries and that is why we need to laud Beijing for its commitment to helping Harare to bolster its defence capabilities. 

Given the fact that we are living in a globalised world there is totally nothing wrong for Zimbabwe to receive military equipment’s from its allies. 

I call all African leaders to constantly empower or strengthen the capacity of their defence force, if need arises they will be expediency in tackling conflict on the continent. 

Finally, I wish all the people of Zimbabwe a HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2024. As our President Mnangagwa always says, Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo. God bless Zimbabwe.

Tapiwa Muruviwa holds a Msc in Political Science (UFH), Bsc (Hons) Political Science (UFH), B.A International Relations (Univen). PhD Candidate University of Zimbabwe, Department: Governance and Public Management

Cell: 0719077319 Email: [email protected]