Chinese politics has been influencing Zimbabwe since the early 1970s, but few people realise this. The remarkable parallels include:
1. Both nations have a culture of ancestor ‘worship’ – respecting ancestors and giving sacrifices to ward off punishment by dead ancestors and receive blessings of fertility and prosperity. In both supernatural intervention by spirits is believed to be the fundamental key to prosperity or disaster.
2. Both had violent revolutions to overthrow oppressive regimes – Mao overthrew Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party or KMT)and Zanla/Zipra overthrew Ian Smith and the Rhodesian regime.
3. The ideology of both revolutions was Mao’s form of Marxism where the rural areas were conscientised and then occupied through war. Once the rural areas were won by war, the cities would automatically fall.
4. Both used failed post-liberation political philosophies justified by Karl Marx. They bought political, social and economic reforms, but the reforms only succeeded in making both nations poorer and power was abused more and more.
5. Both practiced isolation – China drew the bamboo curtain between itself and the feared, predatory imperialist west. Zimbabwe did the same. In both countries the west was a constant subject of media attack – portrayed as a menacing superpower that threatened destruction and loss of sovereignty.
6. China grew economically only when the Chinese communist party opened up the economy to all people, not communist party members only. Zimbabwe still has to learn and practice this example.
7. Both use the state-controlled press to make targeted individuals HEROES and then VILLAINS. For example in China, General Lin Bao, right hand man to Mao was transformed from hero of the nation to despised traitor in a few days. It was a grim reminder of how precarious life at the top was. The same has happened with vice President Joice Mujuru.
8. Both had transfers of land after the revolution. Zimbabwe had the British-funded land redistribution soon after independence and China had the 1953 execution of landlords.
9. Both had a second wave of land reform – China in the cultural revolution and Zimbabwe the 2000’s land invasions called Hondo Ye Minda.
10. Both had Jambanja [meaning chaos] periods that were carried out by youths. China’s cultural revolution was carried out by the Red Guards [1966-1976] and in Zimbabwe the Jambanja farm invasions carried out by Zanu (PF) youths. Both Jambanjas involved youths being lawless and destructive. Mao’s cultural revolution ended with his death. Zimbabwe’s is still continuing.
11. In both revolutions theft from victims was practiced with impunity.
12. Both Jambanjas resulted in a crash of agricultural production and accelerated poverty.
13. The real reason for both Jambanjas had nothing to do with the land but everything to do with the fact that the party was losing faith in their leaders. Both succeeded in strengthening power in the hands of Mao/Mugabe, but the consequences were agricultural and economic losses, and catastrophic increases in unprosecuted violent crimes.
14. In both cases teachers were singled out for persecution, violence and murder.
15. As the health of both Mao and Mugabe began to fail, the wives of both attempted to become ruler. Jiang Qing and her gang of four in China failed to take power and were deposed. The outcome of Grace Mugabe’s attempt is yet to be seen.
16. Both claimed to be democratic revolutions, but both were tough dictatorships.
17. Both claimed to be motivated by helping the poor, but both ended up in benefiting enormously. In China this is seen in the post-Mao leadership where party functionaries became billionaires. In Zimbabwe government attempted to put the economy totally in the hands of party functionaries. Business people considered disloyal to the party have their businesses removed by legislation, intimidation or manipulation and party members assume control.
18. Both depended on the army and youth brigades for power.
19. Both started pseudo political movements designed to discover enemies of the ruling party. The Hundred Flower Movement in China, the MDC in Zimbabwe. Since 2005 I have repeatedly stated that the purpose of the Zanu-initiated MDC was to reveal the enemies of the ruling party and to discover in advance western plans and pre-empt them, causing a loss of democracy and extension of ruling party power. MDC members hate me for this but when the CIO chiefs write their biographies all will be revealed.
20. At the end of both aged, sick rulers ’ lives, there were battles for succession as both had ensured that there were no suitable candidates to take over power from them. Any possible candidates were subjected to media vilification or even murder and arrest. Mao was a master at playing factions against each other, picking out a favourite here and a protégé there.
21. Both had cult personality leadership – their photos on the walls of all government offices, parastatals and businesses.
22. As the health of both Mao/Mugabe declined their countries declined into political and economic quagmire.
23. Two great nations, two great peoples, two nations with immense resources – but in both of them serious corruption and abuse of power threatens the very foundations. If they do not bring about a moral culture, both countries will decline.
24. China and Zimbabwe are now entwined, with Zimbabwe as dependent on China as Rhodesia was on Britain.
Post published in: Analysis