The economic tie of China and African countries seems to be strong. However, the question is Does China import quality product to Africa? e.g. in Namibia.

I asked the above question because people mostly Namibian are complaining about poor quality products found in most Chanesse shops here in Namibia and Some are saying if you by product e.g. a shirt from non-Chanesse shop but it was made in China it could be of high quality and may be imported to Namibia through Europe or America.

What are u saying?

Tuhafeni,

Thanks. Good question. I'll have to do some checking, though.

Many Chinese businesspeople and companies operating in southern Africa have a reputation for allegedly cutting corners and undercutting their local, established competition. Whether it is saving money by not registering workers with social security and not making payments, not putting retriement funds or social security schemes in place and contributing to them, not paying living wages, treating workers as second-class citizens, pulling strings to obtain work permits and identification documents, licenses and passports, et... the net effect is that Chinese businesspeople are not only making friends in the region, but also enemies, and are developing a reputation.

Now that may not bother the Chinese businesspeople and officials much as long as they receive the protection of their host Governments, and as long as they keep the wheels greased by keeping the local elites on their side, but it is certainly not in their long-term interest. China sees no reason yet to eat humble pie, but it may do so at is own peril in the long run. Remember the colonialists of yesteryear? How did that behavior become them?

There is no reason to be xenophobic either, and we must guard against that, too. Many other Chinese businesspeople are honest, hard-working, quiet and industrious people who get on with it. Many investments by Chinese companies in our part of the world contribute to economic and social development. No doubt about that, and they are very welcome.

Three short points to remember:

1.) Most, if not all, Chinese companies working in Namibia are fully state-owned! They are not even para-statals as per our definition.

2.) Many Chinese businesspeople ARE, as Uncle Paul says, honest, etc. These, however, usually swim in the very big ponds; they don't paddle in baby ponds like Namibia.

3.) I have a faint suspicion that we may see even more penetration into local and regional markets by Chinese companies, especially in the building trade and related sectors, once the Olympic Games are over and all building and other activity in China has come to a virtual halt

I'm with President Mbeki on this one for a change, and this is what he said to students in the Cape last year: "Africa must guard against falling into a colonial relationship with China" he said. Mbeki said African nations must strive for their relationship with China to be based on equal trade. Mbeki said that if Africa just exported raw materials to China while importing Chinese manufactured goods, the African continent could be "condemned to underdevelopment". He said that this would simply mean "a replication" of Africa's historical relationship with its former colonial powers. China was also too happy to support repressive African regimes. Indeed, Mr Mbeki, indeed!

My insignifant, humble, little contribution:
Yes, China does import items of good manufacture and quality into Namibia and other countries.

TRUE!!

Sewing machines, bicycles, generator sets, locom,otives, cars, etc.

Some of the products from the Yellow Peril are really not bad at all !!!! Why, because they are based on very solid engineering from Britain, Germany, Japan! and other nations of the industrialised world.

Even their computers (Lenovo, for instance) are first-class and can compare with any of the others in that price range!!! Always look at that!!! Of course, a cheap product in any range cannot compare with an expensive one of the same range.

Don't tell me you believe that a Fiat UNO has the same quality of build , etc as a Ferrari???

Pietro ...

You make me feel like a grade 12 teacher who expected a (pupil) learner to fail and now this pupil surprises the teacher with a distinction!

Well said, old boy!

Lenovo is the re-branded division of IBM that was purchased by the company a few years ago. All American technology, and good.

Still proves my point!


Thanks