Is China embarking on a modern day Scramble for Africa, or is its investment a lifeline?
Millicent: China has the money to invest, we need the investment for roads and infrastructure and we need to get whatever we can. It doesn’t come with strings like Western aid so don’t knock it. Angela: Should we be afraid of some sort of rampaging Chinese take-over, I don’t think so. The West are the experts at that. Kwame: China is the latest exploiter of Africa’s situation. The Chinese are ruthless in their quest to outdo their European and American counterparts and have resorted to dubious trading practices. In the apparel industry for instance the Chinese in connivance with African traders seeking to maximize profits replicates African designs at a cheaper cost, re-package them and send them back to Africa. Protection of intellectual property is not part of the Chinese vocabulary. For years Africa has served as fertile grounds for others to exploit. Kwesi: China’s new relationship with Africa is modelled on the old exploitative relationship between Africa and the West and it can o
