Mugabe right on China – Mutambara waffles

ZIMBABWE – HARARE – PRESIDENT Mugabe must be respected and credited for his vision and insight on embarking on the Look East Policy because China has taken over the world economic stage, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has said.

In a wide ranging interview at his Munhumutapa Offices in Harare on Saturday, DPM Mutambara who has just returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said what was left was for the country to perfect the art of benefiting from China.

‘Zimbabweans must show maturity by giving credit where it is due, even if we belong to different political parties. The decision to look east was noble, insightful and correct.

“President Mugabe is the founding father of this nation and we must credit him for his vision and creativity in the Look East Policy. Yes, there was vision and creativity, the decision to look east was insightful.

“China is the way, China is the life. Even America is now looking east. China has dwarfed the United States of America and Japan. By 2015 it will have overtaken America as the biggest economy in the world and by 2040 China will control 40 percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product compared to America’s 14 percent,’’ said DPM Mutambara.

The DPM said he was shocked to see everyone at the World Economic Forum, including US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stampede for China’s presentation.

“You should have seen them run like kids when Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Dr Lee presented in Davos. They listened and took each word as it came carefully. China is the way.

“The story is clear, if you don’t have a future link with China, you are doomed.

“Zimbabwe has an advantage, President Mugabe and his generation have had links with the Chinese since the liberation struggle. What we need to do is to change our way of dealing with the Chinese by paying off debts and remaining in good books with them.

“The Chinese are using their technocrats, their lawyers, economists and doctors and every big brain to develop their country. This is not politics, we want to develop Zimbabwe,’’ he said.

DMP Mutambara said Zimbabwe should, however, not close its doors to other investors, as the country should look at all angles.

“I am not saying we should end with the Chinese. No. We need to look at all others because the more the merrier. But in all those dealings, the Chinese must be given favourable attention.’’

Turning to the inclusive Government, DPM Mutambara said there were more successes than challenges and that everything was on course.

“On Friday we had very fruitful and successful meetings. The three principals to the GPA met. The top six met, that is the President and his two deputies and the Prime Minister and his deputies and once again it was successful.

“We are on course,’’ he said.