Mutare, October 21, 2026
There are
increasingly vocal claims from various economic think tanks that China has
effectively "taken over" Africa through massive investments in
infrastructure, mining, technology transfer, and trade in consumer goods. This
observation prompted me to examine the true source of China's growing influence
on the continent.
How has
China managed to eclipse the influence of countries such as Britain, France,
and Portugal, which enjoyed centuries of historical engagement with Africa
through both colonial and post-colonial relationships? Despite their
longstanding linguistic and cultural advantages, these traditional powers
appear to be losing ground as Chinese entrepreneurs, investors and workers
establish themselves across the continent, often communicating through broken
English, French or Portuguese, yet determined to build relationships and
conduct business. I repeat: relationships.
China's
historical contacts with Africa have existed for centuries as well, but they
were relatively limited compared to those of Europe. This raises a critical
question: how has China managed to surpass Europe and North America in many
sectors of the African marketplace?
I argue
that China has succeeded by deploying what may be described as a
socio-anthropological force rooted in treating Africans as economic equals.
Importantly, by "Africans" I refer not merely to governments and
political elites, but to ordinary communities and local populations.
In
contrast, I contend that Europe and America remain constrained by historical
perceptions that cast Africa and Africans as the "other." Whether
consciously or unconsciously, many institutions continue to approach Africa
through a dualistic engagement model. They often prefer to work through
established contacts, expatriate networks, or Western-trained African
intermediaries rather than engaging directly with local communities. Does this
model still hold influence? Certainly. But its effectiveness is increasingly getting
weaker.
The issue,
however, is more complex than it first appears.
There is a
provocative paradox. Africans living in Europe and North America often
experience greater levels of respect, dignity and institutional protection than
many Africans living in China. This boggles the mind.
If Western
societies are capable of treating Africans with respect within their own
borders, why do their governments and businesses often engage differently with
Africans on the continent?
Are they
still influenced by outdated narratives that portray themselves as benevolent
donors assisting a perpetually dependent Africa? Conversely, is there a
comparable tendency among some Chinese communities on the mainland to view
Africans through stereotypes of poverty, disease or backwardness?
Such
questions cannot be ignored. We recall reports of discrimination faced by
Africans in China during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when some
were accused of carrying the virus into the country. These incidents
demonstrated that prejudice is not confined to any one civilization.
Researchers
and social scientists will continue to explore these questions. Yet regardless
of lingering prejudices, perceptions and relationships are changing rapidly due
to the internet and the digital revolution. Global connectivity has effectively
transformed the world into a single village. The centres of power are shifting
as well.
The scale
and speed of people-to-people interactions are unprecedented. It is conceivable
that future digital platforms may allow consumers to engage directly with
producers in ways that are almost unimaginable today. A coffee enthusiast in
Oslo could one day virtually select, harvest and roast coffee beans from a farm
in Mulanje, Malawi, before arranging delivery. A jeweller in San Francisco
might purchase gold directly from Kwekwe, Zimbabwe, and commission local
artisans to produce bespoke jewellery before shipping it abroad.
Whether
these precise examples materialise or not, the broader trend is clear: advances
in connectivity, data transmission and the “Internet of Things” are likely to
transform the architecture of global commerce.
But let us
return to the central argument.
Europe and
America are increasing their engagement with Africa, yet they often approach
the continent in ways that fail to generate lasting social connections. Their
representatives typically arrive in capital cities, hold meetings with
political leaders, sign agreements, exchange diplomatic courtesies, take
photos, post on social media and depart, satisfied that progress has been made.
Chinese
engagement often follows a different pattern.
After
formal diplomatic engagements, many Chinese investors and entrepreneurs move
closer to the actual sites of production. They establish themselves near mines,
farms and rural communities, frequently living for extended periods among local
populations. In doing so, they encounter one of Africa's greatest assets:
hospitality.
Despite
language barriers, communication emerges through a combination of gestures,
simplified vocabulary and gradually acquired local languages. Relationships are
formed. Knowledge is exchanged. Business opportunities are created.
In some
cases, strong personal bonds develop. Some individuals settle permanently,
marry locally and become embedded within the communities where they work. As a
result, new cultural expressions and hybrid vocabularies emerge.
In
Zimbabwe's gold and chrome mining communities, for example, expressions such as
"Gooda-Gooda" have entered local usage to signify excellence
or brilliance. Combined with universal expressions such as "yes,"
"no," and "aha," together with gestures and body language,
communication becomes surprisingly effective.
At the end
of the working day, many Chinese workers do not return to hotels in distant
urban centres. Instead, they pitch tents, prepare soup, share food with local
communities and participate in everyday social life. Business relationships
gradually evolve into stronger human relationships.
Festivals,
community gatherings and shared experiences become platforms through which
trust is built. In my view, this blending of commerce and community helps
explain China's growing prominence within Africa's resource extraction and
investment sectors. Remember, because of limited exploration of sub-Saharan
Africa, local communities jointly know more than their governments.
Are
Europeans and Americans afraid of pitching tents and sleeping in an African
village? Not at all.
Indeed, a
similar model exists within Africa's tourism industry. From the desert camps of
Marrakech to the bush lodges of the Zambezi Valley, from the slopes of
Nyiragongo to the plains of the Serengeti, visitors immerse themselves in local
environments. They set up camps, share meals, gather around evening fires, and
experience Africa's natural beauty firsthand.
The
fundamental principle remains the same: meaningful human connections create
lasting relationships.
The missing
link, therefore, may be people-to-people engagement.
The current
United States President, Donald Trump, is correct on one important point:
Africa does not primarily need aid. It needs mutually beneficial business
partnerships grounded in respect and value creation.
The digital
revolution is also reshaping traditional centres of power. Technologies such as
Starlink, together with social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram
and X, are empowering individuals and communities in unprecedented ways.
Influence is no longer concentrated solely within governments and capital
cities.
Increasingly,
capitals serve as legal and diplomatic centres where agreements are formalised.
Real economic and social power, however, is returning to communities,
entrepreneurs and citizens themselves.
The various
risk rating firms in London, Paris and New York still develop their “red-zone” reports,
lazily rating Africa as a high-risk zone. Far detached from the reality. They
are missing it. Africa is not developing using their prescribed models. Africa
is experiencing a heterogenous paradox. It’s areas and sources of growth do not
ordinarily make sense if assessed through the usual economic lens. The many
small African owned companies that are producing are not listed on any stock exchange,
largely cash based and rudimentary technology wise. Their cost of production is
comparatively higher, and rate of production much lower than possible. But, be
that as it may, the cumulative sum of these small start-ups is producing most
of the gold, avocado, tobacco, and food in various parts of the continent. Smaller
margins but high outputs.
At the same
time, Africa is beginning to trade more with itself. Historically,
intra-African trade accounted for less than 15 percent of the continent's total
trade. This reality is changing, driven by improved connectivity, regional
integration, and expanding people-to-people commerce.
I am not
commissioned to advise Europe or America. Yet, as an African scholar, the
philosophy of Ubuntu encourages the sharing of insights for the benefit of all.
Reading recent think-tank reports from Europe and the USA seems to confirm
their “measurement errors”. Their measurement
tools are inadequate to fully measure the typology, direction, and energy of
the African economy.
Africans
are increasingly present across the globe. Equally, the world should become
more present in Africa. The future belongs to genuine engagement, shared
enterprise and human connection. After all, post the Asian Tiger miracle of the
last 40 years, the Lions of Africa are rising. The construction of new mega projects
like the various fuel refineries and pipelines, the Dar es Salaam-Lobito transport
corridor, and various other developments across the continent in Kenya, Somalia,
the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea Conakry, and Ivory Coast are
opening up new business opportunities for all. Rare earth minerals, organic
food, green energy opportunities, and untapped holiday
No one is
going to sound the bell of Africa rising. Those with eyes must see. The lions
are out. Africa’s 1.4 billion population, 67% of which is below 40 years old, is
ready. Are Europe and America ready to rescue themselves from their “dark and
hopeless” view of Africa? The Chinese are not holding back. And, in line with its
contemporary history, Africa neither looks east nor west. Her eyes must be
fixed on her people- peace and happiness!
* Itai Zimunya is an economist with The
Eastern Caucus (TECa), a Mutare-based economic research institute.
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