Chinese Engagement of Zimbabwe and the Limits of Elite Agency. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chipaike, Ronald; Bischoff, Paul Henri
• Is Part Of: Journal of Asian and African studies. Volume 54:Number 7(2019)
• Page Start: 947
• Page End: 964
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Agency -- Africa -- China -- MDC -- ZANU PF -- Zimbabwe; Social change -- Africa -- Periodicals; Social change -- Asia -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Africa -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Asia -- Periodicals; Africa -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Asia -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Africa -- Periodicals; Asia -- Periodicals; 950
• DOI: 10.1177/0021909619848783
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9096

Abstract

This article contends that Zimbabwe's agency in its engagement with China has been limited and at best circumscribed. This owes to factors such as indifference by state authorities to cooperation with civil society actors in negotiating with Chinese actors, the desperation of the The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front regime in the face of isolation by erstwhile partners as well as the opacity and secrecy that characterizes significant areas of the Zimbabwe–China relationship. The pressing need for critical institutions such as parliament to play independent oversight roles as well as the creation of space for civil society watchdog functions are highlighted as key enablers if Zimbabwean agency is to generate positive gains from the country's engagement with China.