Comments for African Boots

Comment on Sino-African relations encourage increased British involvement in Africa by teniola

teniola — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:28:50 +0000

Sim nice piece … but this was before the European govt decided to force gay rights on Nigeria and other African countries. Now the British has lost their opportunity with Africans especially Nigeria.

Comment on Economist Dambisa Moyo: Aid Fuels Disfunction in Africa by Mukhaya

Mukhaya — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:59:57 +0000

western private sector have not developed social infrastructure with Chinese enterprises tend to develop.

there is a lot of room for improvement for Chinese enterprises.

a classis example of western enterprises failure – is how they all made money from apartheid.

the western form of aid , is not designed to develop africa , it is designed to give them voting seats in international organizations.

Somaliland is a a good example of why Africa does not need aid , and how africa can develop its own democracy

Comment on Sino-African relations encourage increased British involvement in Africa by Yorkshireyobo

Yorkshireyobo — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:17:26 +0000

Yo Sim,

Nice piece. But what is YOUR view. China and Britain have very different approaches to aid and trade – which is better? and why?

Comment on Sino-African relations encourage increased British involvement in Africa by Calaban

Calaban — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:58:01 +0000

Very good article Simeon.

Calaban. hahaha.

Comment on Africans Boots of Beijing Documentary by Udegbunam Mark Izuchukwu

Udegbunam Mark Izuchukwu — Sat, 28 May 2011 15:08:46 +0000

Hello,

My Name is Udegbunam Mark I, the event and souvenir officer of the Nigeria football supporters club. I’d love to visit any Afrika United FC Beijing’s match or social event in the next coming Months. Also,

Please Could you kindly link us to any contact medium of reaching the club – website, Coach, fans club which ever way. Thanks

Comment on A strange protest at the Chinese Embassy in South Africa by Kai-xan

Kai-xan — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 09:49:27 +0000

an injury to one is an injury to all, does not AIDS itself bear this slogan out as true? One person injured by it becomes more others, all these issues never affect one person only, they effect the world even if we do not see it or do not want to see it.

Comment on A quick glimpse at the African economic miracle by Dr Macaulay iyare

Dr Macaulay iyare — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:15:24 +0000

As an African, a Political leader,I found your write up very interesting.I am very very interested in this research.The development of Africa is first priority to me.there are thousands of technologies available today at various level of development:”which one does african nations pursue that would yield great returns in the short term.Very important,because an average democratically elected Govt. in africa last4yrs_8yrs.The next govt will only continue to pursue a part of the previous govt with positive results to show.Anyway let me part of this ur work.thanks.

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Comment on A quick glimpse at the African economic miracle by China wants an African BRIC

China wants an African BRIC — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 07:57:26 +0000

[...] has a bit of a non-committal no. But as I’ve previously mentioned comparisons to India are often made. And of course India and China are much more diverse (even politically) than their single national [...]

Comment on Sino – a short film by Lebogang Rasethaba by Abathote Thomas Maripane

Abathote Thomas Maripane — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 10:21:07 +0000

Hi ,though you won’t recognise me ,I saw your pic at Mma Rassi and we met again at Musina during unveiling of tombstones and u are are making wonders and hope you don’t give up the good work . Raise our flag in Beijing and show How capable African are ,we r fully behind you .hope to c u 1 day

Comment on Economist Dambisa Moyo: Aid Fuels Disfunction in Africa by Great article

Great article — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 12:40:25 +0000

My impression is China is well aware of corruption but they think along these lines: As the African countries’ infrastructure is modernized and they are more and more engaged in trade, it will indirectly affect the way the people in Africa see themselves. No longer see themselves stuck in a developing quagmire but rather as being a member of the global society. This will in the end also modernize government. They are bringing Africa into the world “by doing” instead of “by preaching”.

It’s sort of a broken windows theory applied at a massive scale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_windows_theory). They modernize the countries’ infrastructure first and modernization of government will follow.

In addition many of the natural resource contracts with China are paid for in part or full by infrastructure projects. A relevant quote I heard was “you cannot hide roads and bridges in a swiss bank account”. This is also a big difference between Chinese and Western enterprises in Africa: The Chinese go ahead and build infrastructure that gives almost immediate and quite visible improvements for these countries while Western companies just pay money which might just end up in the coffers of corrupt officials.

It should also be mentioned that the Chinese are sending scores of people with necessary knowledge for their projects. Good for Africa as they can learn from the Chinese and pick up where the Chinese left off and good for China as it helps relieve the worker (and male) surplus at home.