African countries urged to take a leaf from Chinese development model
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Tichaona Chifamba
The Chinese development model can be applied to Africa and Zimbabwe, with the combined role of the state and market benefiting the general population, a renowned Zimbabwean scholar has said.
In an interview with Xinhua on Thursday, Sam Moyo said if applied appropriately, the Chinese development model could enhance social and economic development, with the state playing a more proactive role.
Moyo is the executive director of the African Institute of Agrarian Studies in Harare.
"The Chinese model can be applied in Africa. In fact, it is being applied although in a haphazard manner. You need that type of state intervention in the economic and social welfare system," he said.
"For instance in mining, here in Zimbabwe we have the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation. If these were managed in an efficient, transparent and strategic way we would have realized more in the direction of value addition," he said.
He said the Chinese model also dealt with projects which optimized employment benefits for its citizens through supporting small businesses.
"With every sector here in Zimbabwe, you can apply certain aspects of the Chinese development model," Moyo said.
It was therefore necessary that some projects were designed in a way that allowed state interventions to support the development of social and economic structures that benefited more people, he added.
China has achieved all-round development in a short space of time and is now the third largest economy in the world.
While it develops its economy, it has also stood by Africa and has come up with the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation, which promotes economic and cultural cooperation based on sovereign equality.
Many African countries have now adopted a "Look East" policy, boosting their cultural, economic and trade relations with China, in addition to their traditional partners.
African and Chinese scholars are now crafting appropriate strategies on how the "Look East" policy can be fine-tuned to boost China's new concept of overseas assistance.
Scholars have said that if the Chinese development model is applied appropriately to suit local conditions, then it can work wonders for the continent. -- Xinhua
The Chinese development model can be applied to Africa and Zimbabwe, with the combined role of the state and market benefiting the general population, a renowned Zimbabwean scholar has said.
In an interview with Xinhua on Thursday, Sam Moyo said if applied appropriately, the Chinese development model could enhance social and economic development, with the state playing a more proactive role.
Moyo is the executive director of the African Institute of Agrarian Studies in Harare.
"The Chinese model can be applied in Africa. In fact, it is being applied although in a haphazard manner. You need that type of state intervention in the economic and social welfare system," he said.
"For instance in mining, here in Zimbabwe we have the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation. If these were managed in an efficient, transparent and strategic way we would have realized more in the direction of value addition," he said.
He said the Chinese model also dealt with projects which optimized employment benefits for its citizens through supporting small businesses.
"With every sector here in Zimbabwe, you can apply certain aspects of the Chinese development model," Moyo said.
It was therefore necessary that some projects were designed in a way that allowed state interventions to support the development of social and economic structures that benefited more people, he added.
China has achieved all-round development in a short space of time and is now the third largest economy in the world.
While it develops its economy, it has also stood by Africa and has come up with the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation, which promotes economic and cultural cooperation based on sovereign equality.
Many African countries have now adopted a "Look East" policy, boosting their cultural, economic and trade relations with China, in addition to their traditional partners.
African and Chinese scholars are now crafting appropriate strategies on how the "Look East" policy can be fine-tuned to boost China's new concept of overseas assistance.
Scholars have said that if the Chinese development model is applied appropriately to suit local conditions, then it can work wonders for the continent. -- Xinhua