In a lengthy statement, ZANU PF’s Director of Information, Farai Marapira, denounced the United States’ multibillion-dollar aid to Zimbabwe and proclaimed China to be the nation’s top development partner.
Marapira was responding to comments made by US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, in an interview recently wherein she said Chinese investment in the country was not benefiting the citizens and “the number of people living below the poverty line has doubled since 2011”.
She highlighted that America was Zimbabwe’s largest bilateral donor since its independence in 1980, despite the hostility that has characterized the two countries’ relationship since the turn of the millennium.
The US had by 2021 provided over US$3.5 billion to Zimbabwe in aid and various other initiatives in its education, health, agriculture and other sectors in the Southern African nation.
In a post on X, Marapira had no kind words for Tremont and America, which he described as neo-colonial, whilst heeping praise on Chinese influence in Zimbabwe.
“With Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, China has consistently been one of our foremost development partners.
“China has also provided donations, such as the National Sports Stadium in Harare, which stands as a symbol of the enduring relationship. These contributions are tangible compared to the actions and “donations” of the United States, which have primarily been focused on funding fake abductions, sponsoring regime change and all manner of false flag operations against Zimbabwe.
“China has played a key role in modernising Zimbabwe’s agriculture and mining sectors by introducing affordable farming and mining equipment. Compared to American-made products, which are often expensive and inaccessible to many local farmers and miners, Chinese equipment has been cost-effective and tailored to meet the needs of small and medium-scale operators.
“When a nation has a narcissistic personality disorder it and other like-minded nations believe no country can develop without their say-so. Unfortunately for them, the horse has bolted, and Zimbabwe like the proverbial phoenix, has risen, and with it new and old partnerships which we will defend and cherish. Neocolonialism died with the decline of the unipolar world,” said Marapira.
Meanwhile, more than US$2 billion channeled into Zimbabwe’s health sector through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has been credited with the reduction in HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country. The US supported programme sources antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and family planning resources for the country’s heavily battered health system.