The elite includes politicians, sometimes heads of State, emerging or established captains of industry and heads of powerful state organs such as the army and secret service.
As debate on the manipulation and abuse of resources in developing countries, and in Zimbabwe in particular, rages, one man stands out prominently. They call him Sam Pa, a powerful wheeler-dealer of Chinese nationality.
Despite featuring prominently in the shadowy exploitation of oil and minerals in Africa at large and Zimbabwe in particular, Sam Pa remains a mystery. An American congressional report based on information from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) says he has used many different names, including Sampa, Samo, Sam King, Sa Muxu, Xu Songhua, Xu Jinghua, Ghui Ka Leung.
Although his presence is pervasive in mining and agricultural sectors, he is a wily operator and even the US intelligence system has failed to nail him to any of the companies he is said to own. He is believed to hold the biggest stake in Sino-Zimbabwe Development Ltd. (See lead story on Page 1)
Intelligence documents indicate that Pa started featuring in Zimbabwe in 2008, when the country was smarting under an acute political-economic crisis following disputed elections in which President Robert Mugabe lost election to Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC.
There was widespread political violence as militias tried to cow the political opposition and Mugabe’s legitimacy was waning even within the SADC region. Zanu (PF) was broke. Sam Pa is said to have been introduced to Happyton Bonyongwe, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss, by a Tanzanian government official.
Since then, Pa has been closely linked to Zanu (PF). A 2012 report by Global Witness said it had found evidence that Pa provided money, cars and equipment to the party through the CIO to ensure electoral victory for Zanu (PF) in the 2013 elections.
The report says he got diamonds and other mineral resources in return, which were channelled out to China while entrenching his own business deals in Zimbabwe that included diamonds, property and cotton.
Currently Sino-Zimbabwe is heavily involved in cotton and cement production, and diamond mining.
Global Witness says Sino-Zim was awarded a diamond concession in Marange and smuggled gemstones to Hong Kong and Dubai using Pa’s airbus jet with the help of intelligence agents.
The company was also listed in a leaked Zanu (PF) dossier as one of the party’s “special interest projects”.
“Our research has also revealed that Pa has directly financed the secret police in Zimbabwe, allegedly in return for diamonds and other business opportunities,” wrote Global Witness.
The Chinese dealer, who some say is a commercial spy for China even though his government has distanced itself from him, reportedly also came to Zanu (PF)’s aid in 2010 when the MDC, which controlled the finance ministry in the Government of National Unity, refused to give money to the security sector. Pa is said to have offered to pay the entire intelligence staff, police and army to ensure their loyalty to Zanu (PF) and Mugabe.
There are similarities between Pa’s activities in Zimbabwe and other parts of the continent, where he allegedly manipulates the elite to gain access to vast mineral and other resources.
He has invested heavily in oil-rich Angola, China’s main source of oil, Guinea, Tanzania and Madagascar. He is said to have wormed his way into intricate political and business circles following strife in most of those countries.
Pa is reported to be the president of China International Fund (CIF), even though he uses proxies. As CIF head, he has travelled to numerous countries where he has gained access to top government officials.
Post published in: News