EDITORIAL: Is China good, bad or ugly for us?

The Namibian government has often been cautioned for openly displaying its affection towards China, more than it does with any other known bilateral partner. On rare occasions when similar affection has been afforded anyone else, the outrage is not the same.

Anti-Chinese stereotypes have blinded the masses to the actual neo-colonial global forces we should be worrying about. The control of less-developed countries by developed countries through indirect means – in short, neo-colonialism – is often squarely portrayed as China’s intent in Africa. Yet, evidence on the ground points more to more qualified candidates from the Global North.

The forces we must pay particular attention to are those that bring along their politics to our shores, the imperialist fanatics who hide their power and influence in the packages they deliver as aid or investment.

There are no holy cows. Each nation is in this business for itself first. The difference lies in the granular details of every deal and the strings attached thereto. As a people, we need a clear framework and boundaries in our bilateral and multilateral dealing. For many Namibians, political influence by a foreign state is where they draw the line. Conditions that seek to alter our values and identities cannot be accepted. How desperate can one be to give up their entire being for a dollar bill?